Saving U.S. Mail

Open the Post Office as a Public Space

Almost a decade ago, a young man was seeking to collect signatures on a petition. Everywhere he went however–Costco, Wal-Mart, his favorite local mall–managers kicked him out. They told him he was on private property and couldn’t collect signatures there.

Frustrated, he thought, “Why don’t I go to the post office? There are always lots of people waiting in line there, and it’s a public agency. They would have to let me collect signatures there.” So he hopped in his car and drove to his local post office.

And there his troubles …