Active resident: Post office ‘gives the community its
identity’
Supervisor Anthony Botelho said he “took the lead” in efforts that ultimately led to the Aromas Post Office staying put despite the U.S. Postal Service’s consideration of moving it into a mobile trailer and cutting some services at the branch.
Botelho talked late last week about how he drafted the San Benito County Board of Supervisors’ resolution officials passed earlier this year urging the U.S. Postal Service to keep the office at 368 Blohm Ave. operating as usual beyong this July when its lease had been set to run out.
Federal officials announced Wednesday that a new lease had been signed and all services will be maintained – a victory for citizens in the city of 3,000 people concerned their only federal or state office would at least lose some services and stood to potentially move out of town altogether.
The incumbent District 2 supervisor, up for reelection Tuesday against challenger Anthony Freitas, also said he took the lead in involving federal officials – including U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, and U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-San Francisco – who ultimately exercised their influence to get the new lease signed.
Botelho said he set up a meeting with Farr when he was in town and discussed the post office issue then, and he also noted a letter he sent to Feinstein asking for her support on the matter.
“Because of my involvement, it was easier to access the federal folks,” said Botelho, who represents the portion of Aromas in San Benito County.
Botelho also took credit for getting two supervisors involved in the other counties that are part of Aromas.
“I took the lead as far as making sure these two other counties got involved,” Botelho said.
Pat Lerman, an Aromas resident active in the fight to keep the post office at the current location, noted how officials such as Botelho and Farr “really stepped up and were really helpful” in getting the lease signed. She also credited Aromas citizens and said it “shows that citizens getting involved in public affairs really works.”
“Having a post office is what gives the community its identity,” Lerman said.
