MISSOURI CITY, Texas – Several Houstonians are still upset after not receiving their mail due to problems tied to the new Missouri City Processing Center. According to United States Rep. Al Green (D-Houston), actions are being taken to resolve the issues, however, a number of people said they still have not received their important packages.
After Green’s news conference, Irene Ramirez told KPRC 2 reporter Rilwan Balogun that her 89-year-old father, Daniel Ramirez, still hasn’t received his heart medication. If he doesn’t get it, Ramirez says he will end up in the ER-- something she says has happened before.
Ramirez said the 89-year-old disabled Marine Corp veteran could not attend Monday’s news conference, so she represented him.
“I’ve tried just about everything I possibly can, including calling the White House because I’ve been my dad’s caregiver for 15 years,” Ramirez said during the news conference. “I’m going to fight for him as hard as I can until God decides to take him.”
Ramirez fears the issues at the processing center could result in health issues for her dad. He requested a refill for his medication on Jan. 4.
“Without these medications, my father would end up in the emergency room or worse,” Ramirez explained.
Now after 18 days, Ramirez is hoping the issues can be resolved.
“I understand we are all fallible humans but when the failures are ongoing and the failures put people’s lives at risk, I think we need to stop and quickly reverse course. I sincerely hope time for excuses has passed.”
Ramirez explained the mailing process for the medication, saying, “It went from Coppell on the fifth to Houston, so in one day. In one day, it went to Missouri City, from Missouri City it stayed there for five days. And then we don’t know where’s at after that.”
Without the medication, Ramirez said her father’s heart rate is in jeopardy.
“Without this medication, he will end up in the emergency room and if he’s in the emergency room, five out of the six times that this has happened for other reasons, he gets ill with the heart rate. Because the heart medication controls his heart rate,” she said.
Ramirez said she has even tried reaching out to the White House for help but has had no luck.
“I love my dad, he’s a Marine. He loves his country. He served his country. We’re proud of that. But what the enemy didn’t do, the USPS is going to do. They’re going to kill him and unless they get some medication, they’re going to kill him. That’s when I come in and I go, ‘Not on my watch, if I can help it.’”
When Balogun asked Ramirez how many times she has called the facility to get answers, she said, “Almost daily.”
“I’m like my dad-- I just will keep on going and I won’t give up... I am doing everything I can to keep him on this Earth and that’s where we’re at,” she said.
Ramirez is hopeful that Congressman Green will help resolve the issues the processing plant is having.
One bride, who does not wish to be identified, said she ordered her wedding dress in early October and was told it would be shipped in December. She still hasn’t received her gown.
“It did come to Missouri City, like Texas, but then I guessed it just went back to Virginia. I guess after it sat there for 10 days it went back,” she said. “For some reason, it just kept getting stuck at Missouri City. This time it got shipped, it was stuck in Missouri City. Then for some reason, it just went into transit. They told me, ‘Oh, it’s here.’ Or, ‘It’s in north Houston,’ ‘Oh we don’t know where it is anymore.’”
The bride said her wedding day has since passed.
“I had to borrow somebody else’s dress that I had to pay for, of course, because I rented her dress out,” she said. “Not only did it kind of, I guess you could say, mess up the biggest day of my life but I didn’t get to ever see the dress.”
While the woman said the dress was insured, the insurance only covered $100 of the cost.
“My dress was well over $1,600 and now USPS isn’t giving my money back. They lost the dress. God knows where my dress is and it’s just been a mess,” she said.
Congressman Green said USPS has a responsibility to explain the issues to the press.
“I don’t think written communications are enough,” Green said. “I think the postal service has a duty and responsibility and obligation to come before the press and explain the circumstances that are causing mail packages to be late. Some of them are exceedingly late. Phone calls are great, if the phone is being answered by a person who can give information.”
Green said he is also worried that the issues will affect the upcoming election.
“I’m concerned about mail ballots. I’m concerned about what could happen if ballots are not handled timely and appropriately,” Green said.
While the congressman said he understands there are “growing pains” with the center, he is concerned about what the issues are doing to Houstonians.
“The growing pains have to have with them an appreciation for what these pains are doing to the public. There’s an adverse impact on many members of the public,” Green said. “Some things can never be undone. This was a wedding. This was one of the most important days in her life. And she did not have probably the most important piece of paraphernalia associated with a wedding.”
Green said he is considering drafting a letter to the U.S. House Committee on Oversight. He also wants to tour the facilities.
“And if that does not help us then we will move to talk to the postmaster general about it. If that doesn’t resolve it, then we will move to have oversight meetings in Congress about this,” Green said. “We will also continue to press for someone to answer the concerns of the people who are going to the Missouri City complex. There ought to be someone on site. You ought not go there and have some person happen to see you and give you information about your package.”
Green said he was told that there was new technology in the processing center and people are still learning how to use it.
“Here’s the problem, you ought to test the technology before you put it to actual use,” Green said. “You should have some sense of how this is going to function because the packages should not be delayed. They should be delivered timely.”
Ninety people have reportedly reached out to his office concerning the matter.
“This is kind of shameful, to be very honest with you. This is a shameful circumstance for us to have to deal with.”