Residents Protest the Closure of Venice Post Office

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The post office is one of the last historic buildings in the city with a beloved mural on it depicting the history of Venice.

So it should be no surprise that residents are upset about the building's closure.

Resident Jim Smith says the 73-year-old post office is much more than a building. It's a place for community. He has lived in Venice since 1968.

"So, I've seen a lot of changes, but one thing's that has been constant is the post office, which is really kind of like a community center. It's a place where we meet our friends and neighbors and have a chance to talk. And everyone in Venice goes to the post office sooner or later, so it's something we don't want to lose," said Smith.

Some Venice residents don't have internet access, so they rely heavily on mail delivery. But the Postal Service faces mounting debt as more people pay their bills online and turn to texting and email.

In response, the U.S. Postal Service announced in February it will close or consolidate two hundred and twenty-three mailing centers.

In another blow to the postal service, the U.S. Senate voted today to end Saturday mail delivery after two years.