The US Postal Service announced plans to temporarily remove 14 blue mailboxes in Los Angeles and Orange counties as a security measure before potential protests.
The Postal Service joins many other agencies across the country that make plans for protests that preceded and after President-elect Joe Biden took office on Wednesday. Experts and law enforcement officials fear the demonstrations could turn violent after protesters invaded the United States Capitol last week.
“These are temporary measures to protect postal property, employees and the public,” said the Postal Service in a January 13 statement.
Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday asked the California Army National Guard to increase security at the state capitol, where about a dozen mailboxes will be removed in Sacramento. About another dozen will be removed in San Francisco.
In Southern California, mailboxes will be removed in areas known to attract demonstrations and protests in downtown Los Angeles, Van Nuys and Huntington Beach.
In Los Angeles, four collection boxes were being picked up in the Civic Center area, on the 1st and 2nd streets near Rua San Pedro.
In Van Nuys, six boxes were being removed in or near its Civic Center, including five on Van Nuys Boulevard. Another box was being removed a few blocks north on Van Nuys Boulevard, near Haynes Street, where there are some government buildings nearby, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Energy and a post office.
In Huntington Beach, three boxes were being picked up on Olive Avenue, near Main Street, where there is also a post office.
The boxes will be removed on Friday night after the last pick-up time or early tomorrow morning on Saturday, said Evelina Ramirez, a spokeswoman for the Post Office.