There’s no rain or snow, so what’s the problem?

In response to the inquiry by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) into the poor performance of the U.S. Postal Service in Los Angeles (Jan. 12), I’d like to add my own story. I live three blocks from the post office and distribution center and have never received worse service in my life.

You’d think living within walking distance from a postal distribution center would garner quality service, wouldn’t you? Quite the contrary.

When I lived in San Francisco, I always received Newsweek on Tuesday. In Venice, it comes Thursday or Friday at best. Sometimes it comes the following week, when the stories are already outdated. Our apartment receives mail from addresses blocks away on a regular basis. My mom’s birthday card, mailed from the Bay Area, took six days to arrive.

I’m not sure what’s wrong with the U.S. Postal Service in Los Angeles, but it’s pretty clear something is broken.

STEVE CROSLEY

Venice

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I was experiencing these same kinds of delays with my mail, starting in July or August last year, well before Katrina or any holidays. I was receiving magazines a full month after they were mailed.

Since I complained and the Postal Service looked into it, the mail has been coming in a more timely way. The magazines are arriving only one to two weeks after mailing.

P.J. EVANS

Chatsworth