Congressman Charles Rangel announced Wednesday that he had received word from United States Postal Service (USPS) that a tentative deal had been reached to extend the lease of the Riayan Tejeda Post Office at its current location. The potential agreement ends the threat of eminent closure of one of Manhattan’s busiest postal facilities.

The lease on the post office was set to expire June 26. The tentative agreement between the USPS and the Williams Real Estate Company ensures that the facility will remain open while a final agreement is negotiated and ratified by the U.S. Postmaster General. While details about the plan have not been released, Congressman Rangel was optimistic about the arrangement would end a controversy that has been raging for months in Washington Heights.

“The information from the Postal Service gives us confidence that this issue has been resolved and that this important facility named after one of this community’s finest heroes will remain open, ” said Congressman Rangel. “A lot of credit goes to the Postmaster General John Potter for seeing that both sides kept negotiating, as well as Sgt. Tejeda’s father, Julio Cesar Lora, for being constantly vigilant and ensuring that his son’s sacrifice is forever remembered.”

Rangel worked over the last several months with area’s leading community and elected leaders to maintain the facility at its current location at 180th Street between St. Nicholas and Audubon Avenues. Rangel said that this victory could not have been achieved without the help of people like District Leader Maria Luna, City Councilman like Miguel Martinez and Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat. Together with activists like Ydanis Rodriguez and community institutions like Community Board 12 and the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC), the coalition helped organize grassroots support and raise public awareness and pressure.

“This issue has brought out the leadership of our community, not just in public protests and demonstrations, but also in efforts behind the scenes,” said Rangel. “These unsung unnamed heroes deserve as much credit for achieving this victory as any one.”

Just a month ago, Post Offices officials had feared that with leasing deadline drawing close, they would be forced to open temporary facilities and redistribute services to surrounding post offices. The agreements makes these alternatives unnecessary.

“Even with all the advancements in technology, people still depend on our mail system to keep them connected to the world” said Rangel. “We may be living in the 21st century, but we still need places like the Riayan Tejada Post Office.”

BUILDING A LASTING MEMORIAL

“There was no question that we were going to fight to keep this Post Office open — it was much too important to see it close,” Rangel continued. “Too many residents not only in Washington Heights but also across the river in the Bronx, depend on this facility to connect them to loved ones, buy money orders, and send packages nationally and internationally. Too many look up and are inspired by the name that this building bears to see it go away. “

Sgt. Tejeda, a member of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, was killed during combat operations in Baghdad on April 11, 2003, at the age of 26. He joined the Marine Corps at the age of 18 after graduating from the Fashion Industries High School. He went on to serve eight years, earning a Silver Star for his valor in the line of fire. He had been deployed to Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, East Timor before his final tour in Iraq.

For Rangel, the battle to save the Post Office is a personal one. A Korean War veteran and Purple Heart Winner, Rangel first introduced legislation to rename the Washington Bridge Post Office in March of 2004. Legislation to rename the facility passed the House of Representatives in September of 2004, with the U.S. Senate following suit in October. The facility was formally rededicated in April of 2005.

“We chose to rename this building as a way of not just remembering Sgt. Tejeda’s contribution to this country, but also as a way of building a lasting memorial of his sacrifice in the very same community in which he lived,” said Rangel. “It’s my hope that now that we have secured this lease, we can go about making sure that it becomes a true memorial and a testament to the sacrifice so many Dominicans have made to this city and this country, in and out of the Armed Forces,” said Rangel.

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