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May 4, 2010 in City
Spokane postal workers fight ‘Do Not Mail’ proposal
City Council rejects resolution on bulk mail opt-out registry
Post office employees are fighting a proposal to allow people to “opt out” from receiving bulk mail.
On Monday, the Spokane City Council rejected a nonbinding resolution asking the state Legislature to create a registry that would allow people to decline bulk mail.
Spokane Postmaster Karen Fairlee and several postal workers testified against the idea, as did a few owners of local print shops.
“The business of mail impacts this community’s employment, commerce and government,” Fairlee said. ” ‘Do not mail’ is not as simple as it sounds.”
Locally, one-time City Council candidate Donna McKereghan has led the charge for the concept. In March, she asked county commissioners for their endorsement, though they haven’t yet voted on the idea.
Supporters say junk mail generates significant waste and that little of it is recycled, especially in Spokane, which does not offer bulk mail recycling at the curb as part of regular trash service. (The city does offer curbside mixed paper recycling, including for bulk mail, for an extra $6.13 a month.)
McKereghan told the council Monday that “Do not mail” is about consumer choice.
“That’s what capitalism is all about,” she said.
Letter carriers argued that the idea would hurt the already struggling postal service as well as businesses that depend on mail marketing.
“We’re talking about a lot of jobs, not just postal service, but also in the private sector,” said Martin Mueller, branch president of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
The resolution was sponsored by Councilwoman Amber Waldref.
“I just hate to see that our postal service is attached to a model that surveys show that customers are not satisfied with,” Waldref said.
But the council solidly rejected the idea, with only Waldref voting for it.
Waldref, who used bulk mail to advertise her candidacy for City Council last year, said in an interview after the vote that she would be OK with it if political campaign advertising had to comply with a “Do not mail” registry.
Councilman Steve Corker argued that bulk mail is especially important to older folks who haven’t adapted to technology and don’t use the Internet.
He added that bulk mail supports many jobs and is used by small businesses to generate customers.
“The reason I can’t support this proposal right now is because I’m one of those people over 40,” Corker said, adding: “I don’t think this is the time to send this message because of our economy.”
MAC faces angry crowd 
spokanesausage on May 04 at 5:31 p.m.
Waldref took a beating last night and looked totally unprepared. Synder and Rush appeared to bail on her as well. Synder didn’t even say a word, and that guy can’t seem to keep his mouth shut. The greenies went weenie and left Amber hanging.
To Waldref’s credit, she kept her cool.
Kudos to the postal folks and the print companies, they were prepared and came armed with logic and weren’t clouded by the group think in the community enterprise building that seems to be directing the Mayors Office and Council.
Albert on May 04 at 5:51 p.m.
Very interesting concept. Personally, I never - like never - open any bulk, political, or non-profit mail. I literally discard it, without opening, into the trash can while returning to the house. If I could register for a “do not mail” opt out, I would sincerely appreciate doing just that. The green preservation factor, lack of land fill junkola, time/wages saved in delivery costs, and “perhaps” cutting the overhead of the “postal service???” would be a serious consideration. Think about all the political junkola that we could avoid. That alone is worth it. Just a thought to share on this unique proposal.
PhiltheBibliophil on May 04 at 5:58 p.m.
I really respect and value Postal Workers! But they are wrong on this. Who in their right mind looks at all the crap that comes in the mail. We can opt out on our phones, way past time to opt out on Junk mail! Let the Post Office finally get lean and mean!
No_Forked_Tongues on May 04 at 6:03 p.m.
Since when did postal workers get paid by the # or amount of mail they carry? They are here to DO a job, not negotiate the conditions of such. If they didnt have all that junk mail to work through we just might get a blt more snappier service at the postal windows. Some people have died of old age waiting in those lines.
Why didnt the greenies support this measure that would keep more junk OUT of our garbage.
Amber probably was not given a copy of the Council Rule Book. “On the job training” is a tough way to go, she should have interned more by attending a council meeting or two prior to running for office. You know.. the best surprise is NO surprise at all.
When ever Snide-r speaks, I hit the mute button on the set. The only thing he can say that will be of any value is “I am resigning” or holding up a sign stating he lost his voice.
Was King Joe undersome kind of trance? No reporting on the Tirade King.
I’m waiting till when King Joe limits the council members to speaking 3 minutes of less and doing written reports on all those spiffy doodle meetings they go to so we have some accountability to what they do for us besides the Monday Night Gong Show and Donkey parade.
pot stirrer on May 04 at 6:30 p.m.
I think is an excellent idea… the postal service fills my mailbox with junk mail i have no interest in receiving….
then i have to pay to get rid of it… it’s such bs…
get this proposal on the ballot in november. it will pass !
oneanddone on May 04 at 6:37 p.m.
The USPS is desperately trying to hang on to a business model that’s anachronistic. Either they get fully funded by Congress or downsized extensively. Personally, I’d rather see the USPS in every teeny tiny town and locale, rather than watch 535 congressmen spend it on earmarks. If our government can bail out AIG, CIT, and every other too big to fail conglomerate, then they can keep a post office in every two bit bend in the road.
reservedparking on May 04 at 6:41 p.m.
The Direct Marketing Assn. offers a national “opt-out” service for junk mail:
https://www.dmachoice.org
Go through the process about once a year. Cuts the junk down significantly. You don’t need a City Council resolution or ballot measure to do it for yourself.
Dazzeetrader11 on May 04 at 6:55 p.m.
Amber’s just dunce. The Union though…”keep junk mail so I have a job:.!! That was pathetic. Who do you pick??? The lazy ones who obviously don’t work much or the woman who looked like she was on “stun”??
riverlaw on May 04 at 7:10 p.m.
Thanks Amber for taking leadership on this one. I hate all the junk I get in my mailbox. It is mind boggling to think how much money and resources are wasted with that stuff. The nice thing about this approach is that those who want the paper could continue to get it and the rest of us could opt out.
mamrapp on May 04 at 7:26 p.m.
As a letter carrier, I opposed the Do Not Mail resolution.
Regardless of the decision though, I respect Amber Waldref. She is a class act. The city is lucky to have someone so diligent and thorough at her job.
schleufer on May 04 at 8:33 p.m.
life is about choices. i dont like junk mail or the idea of wasting paper ink gas n tires to bring me something that goes straight from the mail box to the trash can. maybe if they printed these adds on something a person could use like….say….. toilet paper. you could let your fingers do the walking while sitting on the pot and maybe find an add for more…. toilet paper.
deacon46 on May 04 at 8:40 p.m.
Time to privatize the mail service. The postal folks had better think about defending the bulk junk mailers. If they paid their fair share the post office would survive a lot longer and keep more jobs. But that is not going to happen so lets kiss this relic of a service good bye.
SugarShane on May 04 at 9:16 p.m.
Hey Amber, can you tackle the Sunday edition of the SR next? I get like 5 pages of news and about 100 of ads.
monkeyman on May 04 at 9:20 p.m.
I like the daily treasure hunt to see if I received anything of importance along with the pile of junk mail.
To give USPS more work - how about they also recycle it for us. Perhaps we can put it back in a separate slot specially for outgoing junk. Only half kidding here…
eagleproducer on May 05 at 2:35 p.m.
The Postal Service needs to re-imagine itself, especially in rural America. In many small towns the post office is the hub of social interactions and more than just a place to pick up one’s mail. They could install wi-fi networks to bring high speed internet to communities that do not currently have it. They should REDUCE mailing costs for magazines/periodicals to aid the dissemination of information crucial for a functioning Republic.
The Postal Service is the only carrier that will service sparsely populated regions. Fed Ex, et. al. have no interest in serving locales where they will only lose money. Many small businesses depend upon the direct mail model to advertise because it is the most cost effective for the results it produces. Of all the problems in Spokane and Washington state junk mail should be on the back burner of any thinking person.