WALTHAM – At 79 years previous, Carol Watts has lived in Waltham for roughly half of her life. The retired trainer lives alone together with her canine, Eva, however retains busy in any other case. Watts stated she bumped into mobility points over the previous few years.
“I can stroll however now I’m having a tough time strolling and not using a cane and if I’m going any distance, and not using a walker,” stated Watts.
For the previous 5 years, Watts stated she has been in a relentless battle over USPS drop-boxes in Waltham. Particularly, the shortage of accessible ones for these with mobility challenges.
Watts identified that she had tried having her mail picked up at house however bumped into points with mail being misplaced. She prefers to drop it off herself.
There are dozens of USPS drop-boxes round Waltham together with in entrance of the submit workplace on Fundamental Avenue.
Nevertheless, Watts says none of them are in a position to be pushed up too. Drop-boxes on Fundamental Avenue and in surrounding neighborhoods have been near the street however confronted inward towards the sidewalk, making them unattainable to entry from the street.
The USPS informed WBZ-TV these drop-boxes are dealing with the sidewalk to maintain pedestrians secure from passing automobiles as they insert their mail.
The USPS stated they eliminated the final drive-up drop-box final summer season after a number of automobiles bumped into it. That design was thought-about a “snorkel field” which featured an prolonged opening to make it simpler to insert mail from a automotive. The company stated there have been no plans to switch it.
“We’re a metropolis of 65,000 residents, two universities, and 60,000 individuals who come right here to work each single day in our companies,” stated Waltham Metropolis Councilor Paul Katz. “So, there isn’t any cause that the submit workplace can’t present this fundamental service to the mobility challenged. It’s actually a slap within the face to the town of Waltham.”
Katz is considered one of two metropolis councilors to introduce a decision that will name on the native USPS postmaster to seem earlier than the council to reply questions concerning the lack of accessible drop-boxes.
