Politics & Government

Resident: Zip Code Problem Put My Wife in Danger

Cambridge Road man frustrated with U.S. Postal Service's zip codes.

At the Parsippany Township Council meeting Tuesday night, most of the action took place during the meeting's public comment period. And the item that garnered much of the audience's interest had to do with mailing addresses.

Parsippany resident Richard Rosenthal says one's mailing address could end up being a matter of life and death.

Rosenthal, who lives in a Parsippany home considered by the U.S. Postal Service to be in the Morris Plains zip code, said he has long been annoyed by this. But on Aug. 29, his annoyance turned to frustration and anger.

Find out what's happening in Morris Township-Morris Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That was the day that Hurricane Irene knocked out his electricity, Rosenthal said. As the storm raged, he said two large trees smashed into his garage—while his wife, Harriet, was inside.

After determining that his wife had survived the freak accident—Rosenthal called her survival a "miracle"—he pulled his wife out of the rubble and then attempted to call 911 using his cell phone.

Find out what's happening in Morris Township-Morris Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That caused a problem.

"When you call 911 on your cell phone, you are not getting Parsippany," he said.

When he reached a 911 operator, he gave his full Cambridge Road address and mentioned that he was in Parsippany, he said. The operator insisted that the house was in Morris Township, he said.

"No, it's Parsippany," Rosenthal told the 911 worker, who insisted that the address was in Morris Township.

It turns out that Rosenthal's address is exactly the same as that of a Morris Township home that is on a different Cambridge Road. But the worried husband and the 911 operator were at odds.

Rosenthal said ultimately a neighbor stepped up to transport Harriet to the hospital, where she was treated. He, however, said that he has had it. And he said he is tired of the post office telling him that, regardless of where he actually lives, zip codes determine the official mailing address.

"No," he said. "I live in Parsippany. I want my mail to say Parsippany."

Council President Michael dePierro said he has been frustrated over the issue as well.

"The secretary of the postmaster general of the United States said that they don't route by zip code, which is a lie," dePierro said. "The U.S. Postal Service lied to me."

Rosenthal, a former postal worker, concurred, and asked the mayor to send him $100 worth of letters to his address and to use Parsippany as the designated town.

"I will pay the $100. Just mail me the letters and mark them 'Parsippany.' If they don't arrive at my house and get returned to sender, we can alert the media," he said.

DePierro suggested getting petition signatures to sway the postal service, but Rosenthal was opposed to that idea.

"I am not passing out petitions, and I won't," Rosenthal insisted, and then turned to Mayor James Barberio. "Just do it. Just mail the letters, and if they are sent back to you, we have a story."

The resident then pulled out a sweatshirt reading "The Best Place to Be ... Parsippany."

"Just mail the letters, mayor," said Rosenthal.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here