Landmark Berkeley Post Office To Remain Open For Now

BERKELEY (KCBS) – A proposal to sell a century-old post office, a landmark in downtown Berkeley, has been put on hold and will remain open at least for a few more months.

The U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission decided on Friday to hear an appeal by Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates to halt the sale of the post office building on Allston Way.

Bates will likely appear before the commission to make his case–that the 1914 Renaissance Revival building is the best place to operate–some time in late September or October.

The delay is welcome news for about two dozen people who are part of an occupy-style encampment in front of the building.

"I think we are having an impact and now the key thing is to spread this around to the other post offices that are under threat," one man said who camped outside. "This tactic seems to work."

Despite the temporary reprieve, at least some of the protesters are hesitant to shutdown their camp.

"I would just like to make sure this is true and not some kind of side-stepping political agenda," another man said in front of the post office.

The Postal Service, which has struggled financially losing $15.9 billion last year, plans to end most Saturday mail and close hundreds of facilities across the country.

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