Zip codes

The chairman of the House committee that oversees the U.S. Postal Service came to Flanders yesterday at the request of Rep. Lee Zeldin to assure residents that he will work to get the area its own zip code, something they've sought for more than 15 years.

Rep. Lee Zeldin responded to the U.S. Postal Service's rejection of his request for a new zip code for the tri-hamlet area in the northwest corner of Southampton Town by seeking a legislative mandate, inserting a provision in the postal service reform act pending in the House that will require it.

Rep. Lee Zeldin has appealed the decision by the L.I. district manager and requested a face-to-face meeting with the U.S. postmaster general to make the case for new zip codes.

Zeldin asked the postmaster to consider assigning the new zip codes 11902 for Flanders, 11903 for Riverside, and 11904 for Northampton. The postmaster should give an answer to the request within 60 days, Zeldin said.

Having their own zip codes would foster community identity, and eliminate confusion from 80 duplicate addresses within the 11901zip code, which is spread over two municipalities.