Rep. Panetta Calls for Oversight of the USPS Due to Extended Closures of Brookdale, Almaden Valley Post Offices

May 20, 2026 Press Release Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) called on the Inspector General of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to conduct much-needed oversight regarding the long-term delays and lack of transparency in repairing and restoring the Brookdale and Almaden Valley Post Offices. The Brookdale Office has been closed since December 2024 and the Almaden Valley Office since July 2025 as a result of separate fires, and Rep. Panetta called for accountability and an independent review over these ongoing USPS delays. “Given both the extended disruption of postal services and the continued absence of a clear path forward, independent review from the Office of Inspector General is warranted to ensure accountability from USPS and access to essential mail services for my constituents,” wrote Rep. Panetta. Rep. Panetta emphasized that the property owner of the Brookdale Post Office only started basic permitting steps and did not show up for the required site inspection. Essential repairs and soft-demolition still do not seem to be underway almost a year and a half after a fire critically impacted both the residential and commercial areas. Moreover, USPS has provided only limited transparency and unclear answers to Rep. Panetta’s repeated inquiries, as the reopening of the Brookdale Post Office has been delayed past the promised May 1 reopening date. He also stressed that relocating Brookdale mail services to the Boulder Creek Post Office is not a sustainable solution, especially given Brookdale’s mountainous nature, limited infrastructure, lack of USPS home delivery, and particular challenges for community members with mobility difficulties. “The impact of this closure has not only been a facilities issue, but a human one. In response to the fire, postal retail services for Brookdale residents were relocated to the nearby Boulder Creek Post Office,” continued Rep. Panetta. “… Travel out of town simply to collect basic mail is unsustainable for many of these constituents, particularly those with limited mobility. I have repeatedly reached out to USPS leadership to request updates and offer solutions, including seeking clarity on the status of repairs, next steps with the property owner, anticipated timelines, and the possibility of relocating the Brookdale Post Office within the community if progress at the existing site continues to stall. Despite this repeated engagement, meaningful progress has been limited, and responses have frequently lacked specificity or actionable information.” Rep. Panetta further pushed back on USPS’s extended silence and delays regarding the reopening of the Almaden Valley Post Office, as USPS recently informed his office that the facility is not slated to reopen until spring of 2027, restricting easy access to mail services for many people in South San Jose. “Assuming this schedule is maintained, it will mean my constituents will be expected to wait nearly two years for restored service at a postal-owned facility in a major metropolitan area,” added Rep. Panetta. “In the meantime, I consistently hear from constituents forced to go out of their way to access postal services at a nearby location, a burden that is felt acutely by those with limited transportation options, the elderly, and the disabled. As with Brookdale, updates and explanations regarding Almaden Valley have been few and far between.” Specifically, Rep. Panetta requested that the Inspector General: Conduct a review of the U.S. Postal Service’s management, communication, and decision‑making processes regarding the Brookdale Post Office since the December 2024 fire; Review the internal process for establishing a repair timeline for the Almaden Valley Post Office; Assess whether delays have resulted from internal USPS actions or, in the case of Brookdale, in coordination issues with the Brookdale property owner; Evaluate the adequacy of USPS’s interim service plans for Almaden Valley and Brookdale residents, including accessibility, transportation burdens, and the feasibility of restoring local service through temporary or alternate facilities; and Determine whether systemic oversight or intervention is needed to ensure timely restoration of service and improved responsiveness in California District 2. After the Almaden Valley Post Office fire last July, Rep. Panetta wrote to Postmaster General David Steiner requesting the prompt repair and reopening of the facility, a clear timeline for these repairs, and an update on the continuation of mail services for impacted constituents. Full text of the letter is available here and below: Dear Inspector General: I write to request your oversight of postal operations within California District 2, with particular attention to the ongoing delays, limited transparency, and lack of measurable progress surrounding the repair and restoration of the Brookdale and Almaden Valley Post Offices following separate fires that occurred in December 2024 and July 2025, respectively. Given both the extended disruption of postal services and the continued absence of a clear path forward, independent review from the Office of Inspector General is warranted to ensure accountability from USPS and access to essential mail services for my constituents. The December 2024 fire at the Brookdale Post Office caused significant structural damage to the Brookdale postal facility, rendering both residential and commercial areas unusable. County records indicate the property owner, who is not based in the area, initiated only basic permitting steps before subsequently failing to appear for required site inspection. Nearly 18 months after the fire, the damaged space has not undergone necessary repairs and basic soft-demolition does not appear to have begun. The impact of this closure has not only been a facilities issue, but a human one. In response to the fire, postal retail services for Brookdale residents were relocated to the nearby Boulder Creek Post Office. While this may have served as a short-term solution, the arrangement imposes a substantial burden on my constituents, particularly as Brookdale is a mountain town with limited infrastructure and public services. The community does not receive USPS home delivery and relies on the local post office for access to mail. Travel out of town simply to collect basic mail is unsustainable for many of these constituents, particularly those with limited mobility. I have repeatedly reached out to USPS leadership to request updates and offer solutions, including seeking clarity on the status of repairs, next steps with the property owner, anticipated timelines, and the possibility of relocating the Brookdale Post Office within the community if progress at the existing site continues to stall. Despite this repeated engagement, meaningful progress has been limited, and responses have frequently lacked specificity or actionable information. I have also repeatedly urged the USPS to consider the visible lack of progress and new permitting for the site. Despite the many warning signs that repairs were not occurring during this time, the USPS repeatedly deflected questions about the reopening date, referring to the May 1, 2026 reopening promised by the property owner. In the case of Almaden Valley, after months of silence and lack of repairs, the USPS updated my office this year that it does not plan to reopen this USPS-owned facility until the spring of 2027. Assuming this schedule is maintained, it will mean my constituents will be expected to wait nearly two years for restored service at a postal-owned facility in a major metropolitan area. In the meantime, I consistently hear from constituents forced to go out of their way to access postal services at a nearby location, a burden that is felt acutely by those with limited transportation options, the elderly, and the disabled. As with Brookdale, updates and explanations regarding Almaden Valley have been few and far between. Faced with this situation, I ask that you: Conduct a review of the U.S. Postal Service’s management, communication, and decision‑making processes regarding the Brookdale Post Office since the December 2024 fire; Review the internal process for establishing a repair timeline for the Almaden Valley Post Office; Assess whether delays have resulted from internal USPS actions or, in the case of Brookdale, in coordination issues with the Brookdale property owner; Evaluate the adequacy of USPS’s interim service plans for Almaden Valley and Brookdale residents, including accessibility, transportation burdens, and the feasibility of restoring local service through temporary or alternate facilities; Determine whether systemic oversight or intervention is needed to ensure timely restoration of service and improved responsiveness in California District 2. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Restoring dependable postal operations is vital for my constituents, and oversight from your office would help ensure that these longstanding issues receive the scrutiny and urgency they deserve. Sincerely, ###