CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago Aldermen representing the South and Southwest sides are demanding the United States Postal Service get its act together.
Aldermen Stephanie Coleman, David Moore, and Ray Lopez spoke Thursday in front of the post office at 66th and Ashland in the Englewood neighborhood. They said they have been getting complaints for months, especially in the Englewood neighborhood.
"Thousands of residents have called our office individually without receiving their mail," Ald. Coleman said.
She said some residents complain that their mail is not being delivered at all, while others said its being delivered weeks late.
"There is another epidemic that's happening on the South and West sides," Ald. Coleman said.
Alderman Moore said he's heard from residents - mostly seniors, he said, who's bills are showing up late, and they're not being paid on time and late fees are being assessed.
"I have a list of seniors that have called and complained," said Ald. Moore, as he went on to list residents' names.
"This is not a new issue. The fact that it is taking two weeks at a time for residents to get their mail is completely unacceptable," Ald. Lopez added.
Alderman Lopez noted that seniors are being forced to wait in long lines at the post office to try to get their mail in-person. He said during the pandemic, that's not safe.
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As the aldermen were speaking, a woman walked by with a thick stack of mail that she said had been piling up at the post office for three weeks.
Englewood Resident Randy Williams said he has to go to the post office to look for his mail and it's not safe for him, having had a heart and kidney transplant.
He said he went to the post office on Wednesday after finding his mailbox empty for three weeks and was given one piece of mail.
The aldermen said they've reached out to congressmen and they're asking for an investigation.
The United States Postal Service has blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for falling behind.
Chicago residents in other neighborhoods, including the North Side, have also complained for months about their mail not being delivered in a timely manner.