10021 Zip Code Split

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The U.S. Post Service (USPS) subdivided the 10021 zip code, effective July 1, 2007, and created two new zip codes, 10065 and 10075. 10065 runs from East 61st Street through East 68th Street; 10021 runs from East 69th Street through East 76th Street; and 10075 runs from East 77th Street through East 80th Street. The USPS advises that the division was necessary to ensure prompt delivery of mail in an area that has seen a significant population growth and a large number of new developments. As a result of this growth, the USPS ran out of "+four" numbers for the 10021 area and, accordingly, determined that it must divide the area. Unfortunately, USPS failed to ensure that all companies recognize the new zip codes and my constituents have experienced problems making purchases on the internet or buying gas using a credit card at the pump. As problems arise, I continue to alert USPS representatives and to demand accountability.

Frequently Asked Questions About the U.S. Postal Service’s Decision to Split 10021

1. What are the borders of the new zip codes? Under the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) new scheme, 10021 was divided into three zip codes, 10065, 10021 and 10075, with the following borders:

10065: East 61st Street through East 68th Street from 5th Avenue to the East River

10021: East 69th Street through East 76th Street from 5th Avenue to the East River

10075: East 77th Street through East 80th Street from 5th Avenue to the East River

2. Why did USPS make this change? The USPS determined that they did not have adequate zip plus four add-on numbers to effectively sort mail to mail box sections in what is predominantly a high-rise environment.

3. Why was 10021 divided into three zones rather than two? Three zones will allow for future growth and will help ensure that further subdividing would not be necessary in the future. The USPS advised that splitting the zip code into three zones minimizes the number of people in the community who are affected by this change while maximizing the distribution capacity of the 70th Street facility which will remain in the 10021 zip code. It also enables the USPS to establish more carrier routes using a single carrier for each route. This provides more stability by eliminating shared delivery areas by multiple carriers.

4. How did the USPS choose these two new zip codes? There are a very limited number of zip codes that are available in the 100 series which provide the Manhattan identity. 65 made most sense for the southern portion since it serves streets in the East 60’s. Similarly 75 primarily serves streets in the East 70's.

5. Will the +four designation remain the same? Initially all plus four codes will remain the same, although the USPS advises that some plus four codes may change in the future.

6. Will my current Letter Carrier continue to deliver my mail? Currently there are 79 routes in the 10021 zip code; with the split, there will be 136 routes in the three zip codes. The new routes were structured to keep a maximum number of familiar carriers with the new routes; however, some residences will see new carriers. Many routes will be shorter to reduce the need to have several letter carriers covering the same route, to increase on-time delivery and to make it more likely that one carrier will consistently be responsible for a particular route.

7. Was the split due to an increase in junk mail? Could USPS have simply limited junk mail and thereby avoided the need to split the zip code? Volume was not the driving factor in making this decision. The need was created by the growth in the number of units in an increasingly dense high-rise community and the post office's need to direct mail effectively to a greater number of customers.

Please note that the USPS views advertising mail to be an important part of its revenue base and advises that what many of us call junk mail actually helps to keep the cost of other mail down. Thousands of New Yorkers, including the elderly and home-bound, take advantage of advertising mail and rely on it for many of their purchases.

8. Why didn’t the Post Office use 10121? 10121 has already been assigned and is in use.

9. What happens if someone uses the old zip code – will mail still be delivered? For how long? Mail addressed to the incorrect zip code will continue to be delivered indefinitely, but use of the wrong zip could cause a small delay in the receipt of mail as it will require re-direction.
Mail addressed to the new zip code would be delivered more efficiently.

10. Is the Post Office working with utilities, cable companies and other providers to ensure that their databases change to reflect the new zip codes? Yes. Major mailers use electronic databases to ensure the accuracy of their mailing list. This database update will go into effect nationally on July 1, 2007 reaching thousands of mailers.

11. If I have a large database, how do I get the update? Contact Address Management Customer Products at 1 (800) 238-3150 for assistance in making changes to large databases.

12. I have a lot of stationery with the old zip code. What should I do? Use it up. It would be helpful if people put a line through the 21 and inserted a 65 or 75 as appropriate so that correspondents are aware of the change, but this will not be required.

13. Will USPS be opening new post offices in the new zip codes? No. Retail for all three zip codes will still be provided by the Lenox Hill Station on East 70th Street. Mail delivery will continue to be supported by the Lenox Hill and FDR facilities as is currently the case.

14. Will there be a new distribution center? No. Mail for all of Manhattan is distributed at the Morgan Processing and Distribution Center located at 341 Ninth Ave.

15. What kind of outreach did the USPS do to advise residents of the area of the change? USPS sent a postcard mailing to all possible deliveries in the affected areas. The USPS attended meetings with community groups and has also posted signs in the lobbies of both Lenox Hill and Cherokee Post Offices. Press releases were sent out with all of information about the changes.

16. What is Congresswoman Maloney doing? I have worked with the USPS to ensure that all of my constituents’ concerns are addressed. To that end, I held a town hall with representatives of the U.S. Postal Service on May 12, 2007 at the New York Blood Center, 310 East 67th Street. I have also worked with local community groups to bring representatives of the U.S. Postal Service to community meetings respond to concerns. As problems arise, I continue to alert USPS representatives and to demand accountability.