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Mail delays putting people’s health in jeopardy

PITTSBURGH — Three weeks ago, Beverly Beile expected to open a Christmas gift from her daughter.

She sent it to Beile from her home in Massachusetts on Dec. 18, but it never arrived.

Beile’s frustration with the U.S. Postal Service escalated after her son, a disabled veteran, waited more than two weeks to receive his prescription medication from the VA Hospital.

“He wasn’t getting it and he was running very low. I kept thinking, this isn’t good,” said Beile, who lives in Carrick.

Earlier this month, she received a cancelation notice from her insurance company for non-payment.

Beile said she sent the check on Dec. 10.

Her story is familiar to John Putzier of Butler, who sent his grandson a Christmas present in mid-December.

It still hasn’t arrived.

According to the package tracking number, it was scheduled to be delivered Dec. 21.

“We were trying to be Covid complaint and do things remotely,” said Putzier, who lives about

90 minutes from his grandson. “It was just kind of sad that Santa Claus didn’t come Christmas morning.”

The USPS points to the record number of packages they processed this holiday season and challenges with worker availability due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asked directly if anything locally was leading to the delay, a spokesman confirmed the Pittsburgh branch has been helping Cleveland with its marketing mail.

“The Pittsburgh plant has been dispatching the mail to Cleveland for processing and delivery. It should be clear by week’s end, " USPS spokesman Tad Kelley said via email.

It’s little relief for frustrated customers like Beile who are still waiting for their packages.

“With the pandemic, I understand things are slow. But a month slow? Please.”