{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415794", "APP article on Smith-led letter to U.S. Postmaster General'Jackson wants another post office to alleviate overcrowding'", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Joe Strupp\n\nPublished August 19, 2026, 5:16 a.m. ET\n\nJACKSON \u2013 Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet will keep this town from wanting not one but two post offices.\n\nClaiming one post office in town is not enough to serve a growing population, township officials and several state legislators are urging the federal government to add a second postal site to the community.\n\nCalling the current situation \u201ca crisis,\" a letter to the U.S. Postmaster went out calling for the addition.\n\n\u201cThis urgent request comes directly in response to the overwhelming concerns voiced by our constituents,\u201d several officials said in an Aug. 7 letter to U.S. Postmaster General David Steiner. \u201cThe residents and businesses of Jackson have repeatedly expressed grave concerns over deteriorating service conditions, unsafe access, excessive wait times and the inability of the current postal facility to adequately serve its residents.\u201d\n\nThe letter, signed by Mayor Jennifer Kuhn, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, Assembly Members Robert Clifton and Alex Sauickie, and state Senator Owen Henry, demands a meeting with federal officials to find a solution.\n\nAt issue is the township\u2019s lone postal facility at 915 Bennett Mills Road, which they contend is too small to serve a community that stretches across 100 square miles and a population that has more than doubled since 1980 to nearly 61,000.\n\nIt's not unusual for the line to stream out the door at Jackson Township's only post office on Bennett Mills Road, say officials who want a second postal site to be opened. Joe Strupp\n\n\u201cThis growth has been accompanied by continued residential and commercial development, significantly increasing the demand for postal service,\u201d the letter said.\n\nLocated near West County Line Road, the postal site is in the far northeast corner of the community close to the Howell Township line and up to 20 minutes by car from some parts of Jackson.\n\nA second post office had been in operation at 520 West Veterans Highway in the past but closed in 2012 due to \u201clease issues.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe residents of Jackson Township deserve a postal system that reflects the size, growth and needs of their community,\u201d the letter said.\n\nPostal customers who spoke outside of the Bennett Mills Road site agreed.\n\n\u201cIt is too crowded,\u201d said Paul Nix, a 50-year Jackson resident. \u201cIt makes it difficult when you have to wait. It would be a lot easier if we had another place.\u201d\n\nJackson Mayor Jennifer Kuhn outside of the township's lone post office on Bennett Mills Road. She and other officials are urging the federal government to expand it and open a second location. Joe Strupp\n\nJudy Koppel, a 28-year resident, echoed that view.\n\n\u201cHeck yeah,\u201d she said when asked if the post office was too crowded. \u201cThere are too many long lines. Sometimes I go to Howell because it is easier.\u201d\n\nShe also said it takes her up to 15 minutes to drive from her home on Jackson\u2019s southern end: \u201cIt is really too difficult.\u201d\n\nSteve Olsen pointed out that the post office gets crowded because it is one of the few in the area that also provides passports.\n\n\u201cA lot of people get passports and that takes the clerks away from helping us,\u201d said Olsen, a 16-year resident. \u201cYou also can\u2019t find parking. It\u2019s very difficult.\u201d\n\nAmy Gibbs, a spokesperson for the United States Postal Service, said via email that the agency \u201cis aware of the concerns from the community. Regarding the letter, we will respond directly to elected officials.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415794"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 6.548454985022545, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}