Despite the morning heat, many La Jollans took a stroll to their neighborhood post office on Wall Street to write or drop off handwritten letters, urging Rep. Darrell Issa (R-49th) —chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee — to endorse The Community Post Office Relocation Act. The proposed bill — introduced by Reps. Susan Davis (D-23rd), Brian Bilbray (R-50th) and Bob Filner (D-51st) — would give the community the first right of refusal to purchase a post office slated for closure or relocation at fair market value before the property is listed for public sale. If passed, the bill would pave the way for a nonprofit organization, like the La Jolla Historical Society, to have the first chance to purchase the building, whereupon they would lease the appropriate portion of the building back to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for its services. “The letters are critically important to impress upon Darrell Issa that his goal and our goals are not mutually exclusive,” said District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner at the letter-writing event. “We can partner. We can keep our post office, lease it back to the postal service and everyone — particularly our community — will benefit from this hub in our community.” Leslie Davis, chairwoman of the Save Our La Jolla Post Office Task Force, stressed the importance of Issa’s influence on the fate of La Jolla’s community post office. “Writing letters to Darrell Issa, who oversees postal reform, is the key to our success of being able to control the future of our community and our economy,” she said. “Tell your friends to send letters, be involved. This is what it takes. This is a community effort, and it takes everybody — it takes a village.” Filner also made an appearance at the post office gathering, urging community members to continue the fight to preserve its prized economic hub and uniting center in the heart of the Village. “Every community has something that keeps them together … There’s nothing more important than having a sense of community here,” he said. “Whatever we have to keep communities together, we have to preserve, and this is clearly important.” More than 100 letters were collected on Aug. 17 at the letter-writing event. Letters will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Visit www.savelajollapostoffice.org for sample letters, addresses and further information. GET?INVOLVED The Save Our La Jolla Post Office Task Force is asking Village merchants to take part in an 10-question online survey to asses the economic impact of relocating the Wall Street post office. To complete the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/S7T9RQF.