As a serial seller on clothing resale apps like Depop and Poshmark, I probably spend more time at my local post office than the average person.
I’m at the Southeastern Station at least once a week shipping off a shirt or dress I no longer wear to a new owner. Last month, I learned the location was going to close in July.
The workers at the station had posted signs about the closure, and the friendly faces who greet me at least once a week told me they weren’t sure why it was closing. One worker speculated that the building sold.
Why am I telling you this? I went down a rabbit hole this week thanks to the post office and two legislators that helped me scratch my neighborhood reporting itch.
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and Rep. Juan Vargas announced on Tuesday, June 9, that they had introduced legislation to rename the Southeastern post office at 2777 Logan Ave. The station is currently designated as the “César E. Chávez Post Office.” But since sexual abuse allegations surfaced about the late labor leader, officials have been scrambling to remove his name from buildings.
The legislators want to rename the post office after Armando Rodriguez. He was a World War II veteran and Latino educator and civil rights activist who served in the administrations of four presidents, according to the LA Times. He grew up in Logan Heights and worked as an administrator at the San Diego Unified School District. He died at the age of 97 in 2019.
“Armando Rodriguez was a champion for civil liberties and educational opportunities for Latino communities in California,” Padilla said in a news release. “His legacy has left an indelible mark on San Diego and it’s only right that we recognize his contributions as a Latino civil rights advocate. Renaming this post office ensures his legacy remains a part of American history for future generations.”
Here’s the catch: USPS is closing that location. (Workers I spoke with this week still believe that’s happening in July.) A spokesperson with USPS confirmed it’s closing and told me a search for “alternate quarters” has begun.
So, what does this mean for the renaming effort? A spokesperson for Padilla sent me this on Friday, “Following your inquiry, the Postal Service, for the first time, confirmed with us that they are searching for a new space. The Postal Service still has not confirmed a date for the closure, but our office is closely tracking movements on this front.”
Vargas’ team said something similar: “The Postal Service just confirmed to us for the first time that they’re looking for a new location. We’ll closely monitor updates as this process gets underway.”
A worker at the post office in Logan Heights told me he saw a Union-Tribune story about the renaming, and laughed about the confusion. He shared the story with management, he said, as he charged me for stamps.
Fun fact: The post office building at 2777 Logan Ave. is not owned by the federal government. It was previously owned by a family trust and was transferred in 2024 to Alcoe International LLC, an investment consulting firm. I couldn’t reach anyone at the company to see if they had plans for the building.
Got any random questions or chisme about something in your neighborhood? Email me at andrea.sanchez@voiceofsandiego.org.
More Chisme to Start Your Week
- In other confusing press release news: Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that funding is up for grabs for California’s polluted border rivers. Some news outlets reported that the Tijuana River was getting $46 million. That’s not true, our MacKenzie Elmer writes. Read more here.
- What happened to Chula Vista’s police chief? That’s a question residents have been asking since she went on medical leave and sued the city. Jim Hinch wrote a fascinating story about everything that led to her departure. Read the story here.
- ICYMI: We hosted a live recording of the VOSD Podcast on Thursday. City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera joined us as our special guest. Listen to the show here.
I’m off next Sunday, but I’ll be back the week after. Thank you for reading!
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