Mail delays in Boston remain a hot topic for city, state and federal officials who’ve been inundated with complaints. They’re now calling on the U.S. Postal Service to act.

Members of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation mailed a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy calling for the release of zip code-centered data and whether he will allow USPS staff to speak with congressional members in light of an email chain among USPS management that suggested Boston City Council was “politically motivated” while considering whether Boston Postmaster Joshua Balcunas should testify in response to a subpoena from the city.

“USPS, as a government entity, has a responsibility to come and to testify before Boston City Council to give them answers as to why there’s inadequate mail service across the city,” U.S. Sen. Ed Markey said at an event Wednesday, with the busiest period of the year

Elected officials are seeking answers from the U.S. Postal Service, but multiple requests for testimony have been rejected.

City councilors at the event expressed a similar concern.

“It’s really difficult because that’s the only way we have to have a conversation,” District 9 Councilor Liz Breadon said.

“The fact that they wouldn’t even show us the answers to the questions speaks volumes,” said District 6 Councilor Ben Weber.

USPS has consistently said that mail delivery is within service standards, but did not reply to our requests for comment on Wednesday.

Mail delays are causing frustration for some Boston locals. Neighborhoods like Roxbury and Mission Hill have apparently been dealing with late-arriving postal service for months, causing bills, checks and important safety information to be missed.

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Quelling concerns from the officials and postal union representatives at Wednesday’s event could get more complicated in 2025 with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, under whom DeJoy became postmaster general in 2020.

But Markey said Trump’s return to the White House won’t hinder his efforts for postal accountability.

“Donald Trump will try, with Elon Musk, to privatize the Postal Service,” said Sen. Markey, “That’s going to be inevitable. He’s in for a battle.”

Massachusetts leaders say they’re ready for the fights to come.

“For too many communities, the consequences of unreliable mail delivery aren’t just an inconvenience, they’re life-altering,” Markey said.

Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said it “just depends on keeping our foot on the gas.”

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — For many shoppers it’s a tradition, and for many stores it’s one of their biggest sales days of the year. We’re talking Black Friday: which may not be exactly the same as what it used to be.

Many stores used to see long lines and shoppers sleeping out for Black Friday sales. Meriden resident Olek Wolski was one of those who braved the cold for a good deal.

“Back in the day I used to yeah,” Wolski said. “I was always the first guy in line.”

These days he does his holiday shopping from the comfort of his warm home.

“For getting deals I would mostly go online,” Wolski said.

And he’s not alone.

“I used to go there in person,” New London resident Anh Calhoun, who says she doesn’t do that anymore. “I do a lot of shopping online.”

“I think about it but I don’t usually do it,” Mystic resident Gregg Fedus said.

With Black Friday deals dropping weeks earlier and offered online at the same prices as in store, many are choosing to avoid the crowds which may be a little smaller these days.

“I tend to stay home on Black Friday,” East Lyme resident Lori Venditti said.

Still, she and her daughter Angie do prefer shopping in person rather than online.

“We’re trying to keep businesses in business,” Venditti said. “So the first thing we do is we go to the stores and if we can’t find it we ultimately have to get the item online unfortunately so.”

“It’s a crazy day for us. It’s one of our biggest day,” Candy Shapiro, who owns Grace in Niantic.

She does expect to be very busy on Black Friday. She offers free gifts to many Grace customers and 30% off the entire store, which allows the small but popular shop to compete with the big stores.

“We learned that all you have to do is have an event that gives back to the people and when you give you get,” Shapiro said.

Not only does Shapiro have to compete with the bigger stores but also with the trends of online shopping and sales which start long before Black Friday.

She says she offers some of her regulars and those who sign up for texts early access to sales like the ones on Black Friday.