Congressman and La Jolla resident Scott Peters (D-52) reintroduced the Community Post Office Relocation Act with Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-53) Thursday, March 7. The bill is a slightly updated version of legislation introduced by Davis during the previous Congress.

The U.S. Postal Service is scaling back its services and selling off numerous assets — including its proposed sale of La Jolla’s Wall Street post office — due to a decline in revenue and ramifications of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. That law, passed by Congress in 2006, requires USPS to pre-fund its future retiree health care benefits for 75 years, within a 10-year span.

Should La Jolla’s post office be sold, Peters’ legislation will allow La Jolla and other communities across the country to purchase their post office buildings, so that they can keep their postal services in place and decide who occupies the remainder of the space. Specifically, the bill authorizes the U.S. Postal Service to sell the buildings, at fair market value, to eligible non-profits (such as the La Jolla Historical Society or another within the Village) by offering such organizations the right of first refusal to purchase their post office when it becomes subject to closure.

“Saving the Wall Street Post Office was a promise I made before being elected to Congress,” Peters said. “As a resident of La Jolla, I know first-hand the importance our post office has to our neighborhood. I’m excited to be introducing this bill with Susan Davis today and look forward to helping the town of La Jolla keep our historic treasure.”

“This has the potential to be a win-win for both the La Jolla community and the Postal Service,” Congresswoman Davis added. “La Jollans have come together to say that the Wall Street building is more than just a post office to them — it’s at the heart of their history, their identity and their daily commerce. I look forward to working with Scott on La Jolla’s efforts to purchase and maintain their historic post office.”