The Chimayo Post Office was destroyed in a fire in February, forcing residents to drive about 15 minutes to the nearest post office in Santa Cruz. That might not seem like much of an inconvenience, but it can be for the elderly.
“It is a hassle, especially for the elderly people,” Sammy Martinez, who lives about a mile from Chimayo Post Office told KRQE. “Some people don’t even drive; they have to get their neighbors or somebody to go pick up their mail. It’s become a hassle. People are lined up to the door, but like on other days, if you go before noon or something, two to three people are in front of you, which is not a big deal.”
Gino Pacheco, an owner of a landscaping business, said he has to go out of his way to drop off and pick up his mail. He like others in the community relied on the Chimayo Post Office.
“It’s the main post office,” he told KRQE. “It distributes to other boxes and other communities, Cordova, Truchas all the other surrounding areas, so we really need help.”
The Chimayo Post Office caught fire on Valentine’s Day. The Santa Fe County Fire Department responded and put out the flames. Though there were no injuries, the post office endured extensive damage. The State Fire Marshal continues to investigate the cause which remains unknown.
The U.S. Postal Service said in an email to KRQE that the landlord of the facility plans to rebuild the office, but there’s no time timetable for when that might happen. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez added her support by drafting a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging him to replace the post office in Chimayo.
Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz Post Office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and closed between 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. They are also open Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and closed on Sundays. Customers need to provide identification to receive their mail.