According to Valerie Chartrand, the suspension of deliveries in the neighborhood is due to “safety concerns”. The company did not specify what those concerns were, but said it was responsible for ensuring that people who delivered them could do their job safely. The community has long faced overlapping social issues, such as homelessness, poverty and the ongoing drug crisis. Chartrand says the company is working to solve the problem and create a long-term solution “that will ensure the well-being of our employees”. By then, affected customers living on East Hastings Street have been notified and their mail is available for pick-up from a Canada Post facility about 2 miles (2 km) away. Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart also issued a statement saying the city is working to help vulnerable Downtown Eastside residents and with the Canada Post to ensure mail delivery continues.
