During his hearing to be appointed to another term on the board of governors of the U.S. Postal Service today, Chairman Mickey Barnett recalled senior management’s meeting with a futurist who predicted that paper would be virtually nonexistent in 30 years. “If that is even possible,” Barnett said, “there must be some forward thinking, and…
Postal lessors will usually negotiate a new lease with a CBRE agent. A new lease starts when the old lease expires and there are no options remaining. A renewal lease is one that contains options. When an option on a lease is given to the USPS, the lessor is giving the Postal Service the right…
2014 New Issues: Q. Why has my rents value increased from last year? A. Rent insurance is designed to protect the gross income members receive from their investment. While the insured amount of rent may be accurate for members who have kept rent amounts up to date or only recently joined the Insurance Program, many…
1. You may notice a small increase in your premium this year. Although the rate for calculating premiums remained constant, we are required to adjust the building values slightly upward (by 3%) to remain current with increasing repair and construction costs. Using the same rate for calculating premiums but a slightly higher building value means…
Federal Express and UPS are using the Postal Service more and more to move their own packages, so much that it’s straining the system. Critics wonder if the USPS is charging enough for services provided for FedEx and UPS. USPS delivers an average of 2.2 million packages every day for FedEx; which is around 30%…
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee recently approved plans for new residential developments to use cluster box units or curbside delivery (including mailboxes at ends of a driveway) instead of through “mail slots” at the door. The plan is included in pending House legislation which favors phasing out home delivery over the next five…
If you move or change your contact information, it’s important to let these entities know immediately: 1) AUSPL: 800-572-9483 or auspl@auspl.com 2) USPS Facility Contract Technician 3) EMCOR: 602-685-4612 4) AUSPL Insurance Program: 877-642-8775
If you can crumble a piece of asbestos containing material in your hands, it is friable. Nonfriable asbestos is tightly bound into a material, such as in an asbestos floor tile, and can only be broken up by using tools. If disturbed, friable asbestos can get into the air and be inhaled. Asbestos is widely believed…
As we enter the October/November election phase of this year, Members of Congress have returned to their home districts to campaign for reelection. Prior to leaving Capitol Hill, they passed a stopgap spending measure to fund the government until they return after the election. Some additional items were included in the funding measure, although the measure avoids controversial provisions such as addressing the U.S. Postal Service’s plan to close 82 facilities nationwide in 2015.
There remains some possibility of postal reform passing in the lame duck session of Congress, after the elections. However, that is increasingly unlikely . . .
AUSPL members who own post offices in coastal states abutting the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico must not forget that hurricane season is fast approaching. Coverage under the AUSPL Insurance Program may be limited if a storm is “Named” by the National Weather Service (e.g. “Arthur” or “Josephine”). The AUSPL Insurance Program does…