FLINT JOURNAL EDITORIAL
Intervention by U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint, helped the U.S. Postal Service's processing and distribution center on East Boulevard Drive survive an efficiency review, but in future rounds of postal cuts Flint might not fare so well. For the moment, Flint is not among 24 under consideration for closing or consolidation.
But additional evaluations are to come, as the Postal Service struggles to be profitable, and turns to reducing the number of distribution centers as one method to help.
While Flint cannot expect the Postal Service to keep unnecessary centers going for the sake of local sentiment, Flint can build a case that if there must be consolidations, let preference be given to moving others to Flint rather than vice versa. Had the Flint center been closed, informed speculation was that its operations would have moved to Lansing or Royal Oak.
A fight against that miserable prospect must be mounted now, and not wait for the next threat. Kildee is getting help from local political figures as they speak for the community and press to make Flint's case to the Postal Service. The importance is not just to employees, even though 300 work at the Flint center. Its loss would have a direct bearing on this area as a focus of commerce.
That is why private sector leaders, community activists and others have a responsibility to join with the political group to protect this asset. Although power over this decision does not rest in local hands, it is we here who would have to bear the loss. | 
