I came to the coast in 1989 to work on a fishing boat. I met my future wife and we bought the cheapest house on the market at the time. The house was in a nice neighborhood with great neighbors. It was near Bainbridge Park and the library. It was a cute place but it needed some work including a foundation. We spent a couple years doing the major work and were happy and proud of the results. 

One of the comments I often hear from people who don’t want to change the name of the town is: “if you don’t like it why don’t you leave.” I’d like to answer that question now. Just like that first home we bought here, I think there is some room for improvement. After we started working to restore that house one question we never heard was: “If you didn’t like the house why did you even buy it?” 

I like most of the things about living here. I’ve lived other places but this area suits me. I like all the opportunities for outdoor activity, I like the people, I like the woods and the ocean, enjoy the fantastic scenery and the appreciate the mild climate. I didn’t expect everything here to be perfect. There are things that could be better and when it is possible to make things better I think we should consider doing so.

I don’t like that in giving my address it is often necessary to help preserve the historic memory of an immoral institution “the fort” as well as a traitorous leader of the Confederacy, Mr. Bragg. I don’t think these historic stains are worthy of this type of honor. It isn’t in my nature to ignore the historic origins of name. I don’t like that in using the name I am required to honor things that I don’t deserve this sort of commendation. 

I live just outside the City limits in the unincorporated area of the county now so have no vote on the City name. More than half of the residents of the local zip code have no say in the name of the City but we still have to use the City name when giving our address. I think that there may be a practical compromise solution to this conflict. 

The approved postal destination place name for the local zip code is chosen by the federal government. The City does not get to choose the name used by the Post Office. There is also an option for Post Offices to use reccognized alternative place names for addresses within a zip code. The compromise I’d like to see is to adopt anther mail destination name for 95437 but give residents the choice to continue to use the current name as a recognized alternative destination name for mail addressed to the zip code.

There is presently no recognized acceptable alternative place name for the 95437 Zip code. For example, Cleone is not an acceptable place name to use for mail addressed here. You could use it and probably still get the mail so long as the zip code were correct but the name has no official recognition by the post office. Interestingly Caspar still has a unique zip code despite not having a post office any more and having a reported population of under 400 residents.

I’ve discussed changing the postal destination name with Congressman Jared Huffman’s local field representative Jez Anderson. She said he was open to the idea. One thing there was some confusion about was whether the idea was to assign a name the post office building. Renaming the Post Office Building would accomplish little. The building might be designated the Jere Mellow Post Office Building for example but this would not change the place name used in addressing mail to the 95437 zip code.  Congressman Huffman’s representative told me that before the Congressman would take any action to change the postal destination name he would want to see more local support for the proposal. 

If you would like to see the name used for addressing mail changed I encourage you to write Congressman Jared Huffman to express your support.

Thank you.