South Jersey Postal Delays Continue as Mail Problems Persist

Frustrated with our local South Jersey postal service? You're not the only one. Congressman Jeff Van Drew says persistent mail delays across South Jersey remain a serious concern, blaming changes in mail processing and a lack of meaningful action to resolve ongoing service issues.

During an appearance Wednesday on WOND's The Lorry Young Show, Van Drew responded to a caller from Brigantine who described delayed bank statements, Christmas cards arriving weeks late and mail occasionally being delivered to the wrong addresses.

Van Drew said his office has been hearing similar complaints for several years.

"We've been going through this for the last couple of years and it's getting worse and worse," he said. "The mail—you could always depend on mail. It was always good. They were always responsible. There's a lot of good people that work there. But, man, there are some really big bad issues."

According to Van Drew, one of the biggest changes occurred when mail processing operations were moved out of South Jersey.

"They used to process the mail in a place called Bellmawr in South Jersey. They now do all the processing for South Jersey in Philadelphia. Something went really awry."

Van Drew said the delays have become so widespread that even his congressional campaign has experienced concerns about mailed contributions arriving on time.

He said his office has repeatedly raised the issue with federal officials but has seen little improvement.

"We're working hard on it," Van Drew said. "The administration is aware of it as well. But they don't have too many people from the administration in the Postal Service who are enacting real change."

He added that postal service must improve.

"It's a real problem and it's not nearly good enough. We've got to do better."

Residents throughout Atlantic and Cape May counties have increasingly voiced concerns in recent years about delayed deliveries, missing mail and inconsistent service.