Mail delivery

I read of the Boston City Council issuing a subpoena to the United States Postal Service to send a representative to a council hearing (“Registered mail,” Oct. 15) to talk about “inadequate delivery services” in many Boston neighborhoods. Several councilors have said many of their constituents are upset over late mail arriving at their mailboxes and the postal service says they do the best they can.

What exactly is inadequate delivery of mail? The council order was filed by City Councilors Sharon Durkan and Liz Breadon. According to Breadon, internal USPS emails “accidentally” forwarded to the council indicated that the federal agency blew off the request to appeal saying the council had a “political agenda.”

The vote to subpoena the USPS was passed 11-1 with Councilor Ed Flynn questioning legal concerns, as a hearing he had called on late school buses had to be postponed because no one from the school department could appear on the requested date. Yet, the city council then did not issue a subpoena to appear.

Flynn makes a good point. Filing subpoenas doesn’t seem consistent. Why has the Council chosen to subpoena the postal service but not officials from the Boston School Department?  I think politics always plays a role in the actions of our city council, especially in our strong mayor, weak city council form of government.

Eventually, when USPS officials show up, they will present their opinion of the quality of our mail delivery in the Boston postal district.

Sal Giarratani

East Boston

Warren’s vote

I am wondering why we are not seeing one of the big takeaways from the Warren-Deaton debate? Senator Warren apparently voted AGAINST the “bipartisan migrant” bill in the Senate that so many Democrats have vilified former President Donald Trump for “sabotaging.”

It is obvious from her votes and her responses that she is much more progressive than I am comfortable with and I am an Independent. I sincerely wish there were a real Independent Party for people to join.

Although I am not comfortable with crypto currency, I liked the moderate tone from John Deaton.

Joan Gonfrade

Ashland

Medicare sign-up

I have become totally frustrated with trying to sign up for Medicare. Those letters and fliers you get in the mail are useless. When you call any of them to do your initial enrollment for Medicare they tell you to contact the Social Security Administration. And the website is totally useless too.

When you get your yearly Social Security letter listing your retirement age and how much you will receive in monthly benefits they should include a number for the local Social Security Administration office so you can go in person to sign up. The politicians in this country need to pass legislation to streamline and simplify Medicare.

Paul J. Baranofsky

Waltham