ST. LOUIS — There is growing pressure for the U.S. Postal Service to step up its service and get mail delivered on time. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley is now calling on the government to audit all post offices in St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County.
In a letter penned to the inspector general Monday, Hawley says it's time to get to the root cause of why so many people's mail is being delayed. He isn't the first lawmaker calling for change.
"Some things I'm really in a hurry to get, I know I probably just won’t get it on time,” said a Hyde Park resident who asked not to be identified.
Many now have lowered expectations amid ongoing mail delays.
"I sometimes get it maybe once or twice a week and it's normally in a pile so it looks like it's been accumulating for some time,” the resident said.
"Mainly just inconsistency. I don't have an understanding of what to expect. Therefore, I don’t think I have expectations,” Central West End resident JT Thompson said.
Now, Hawley is ringing the alarm.
"One resident in the St. Louis area said she had not received her mail in more than three months, resulting in late bills and financial harm to her small business ... others described losing access to prescription medications and social security checks,” he wrote in his letter.
He's now calling on the government to audit post offices. His request comes two months after Congresswoman Cori Bush penned a letter to the Postmaster General citing "systematic staffing issues" and calling on improved working conditions for post office workers.
Whatever the fix, people just want a resolution.
"Even stuff I'm sending local … sometimes, it will take a week to get there. Sometimes it's there in two days,” Thompson said.
"Before I was angry. Now I've gotten used to it, hopeful it's going to change and get better,” the Hyde Park resident said.
Hawley is asking the inspector general to respond to his office within two weeks.
5 On Your Side reached out to the postal service on Monday and a spokesperson said, "We will respond directly to the senator regarding his concerns."