District postal manager Victor Benavides made some rather bold promises to the residents of Rio Rancho during Thursday's town hall meeting. His cautious hesitation on some statements had residents tentatively hopeful at best and completely skeptical at worst.

But all Benavides asked was four months in which to prove himself.

Benavides pledged two more contract postal units by March and a Post Office Express by July. As many as five new locations could be opened by summer. A CPU is anticipated to open at ABC Glass on Golf Course Road by Feb. 12. Another location should open by mid-March, and the Post Office Express should be built in Enchanted Hills by July.

According to Sarah Cobb, who works for U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, three more businesses offered to install a CPU following the town hall meeting, and two have a good chance to come through.

When he announced he would work to put a post office in the City Center, Benavides received thunderous applause from the half-full audience at the Performing Arts Center.

"I would like very much to have a pressence at the new (downtown) area," he said.

That sentiment quickly changed, however, when he admitted there would likely be no mail delivery from that location, with one man yelling from the audience, "What's the point?"

Many within the crowd were encouraged with the announcement that Benavides had named an acting postmaster for Rio Rancho.

Richard Guzman has taken the roll initially. Benavides said the move will give the city a greater voice at the post office, as one person will be soley responsible for what happens within Rio Rancho.

Benavides also promised to replace sorting equipment in the main sorting facility in Albuquerque and the Rio Rancho Post Office in an attempt to have letter carriers off the street by 5 p.m. Those machines should be operational by mid-March.

That promise was challenged by American Postal Workers Union spokesman Eugene Gabaldon.

"The current facility cannot deliver to 80,000 people without delivering in the dark," he said.

Benavides countered, saying, "I'm going to prove that to you in about two months."

An improved relationship between the post office and the city will likely help future residents. Benavides said the office will now be notified of upcoming housing developments, adding that new homeowners will receive their mailbox keys upon purchase of their home.

The biggest complaint by the residents of late has been over conditions at the post office. Long waits, few clerks and the removal of the number system.

Benavides said most of the problems are due to a lack of staffing, from turnover, vacations and sick time.

"The other piece is a management issue, and we're working on that," he said.

Benavides seemed shocked to learn that frequently only two people staff the counters at the Rio Rancho branch.

"If we are that short every day, then we need to put more people in," he said.

Turnover has been an issue for Rio Rancho residents, especially in management positions. As one man said, "Every single time, I get a different person who is in charge this week."

There was a discussion of alleged layoffs at the post office, which Benavides called a "complete miscommunication."

"I don't plan on laying people off," he said. "There's plenty of work out there."

After the meeting, however, an Albuquerque letter carrier, on the condition of anonymity, said no one is getting laid off, but positions are being simply eliminated if the post office cannot fill them.

The number system is apparently not returning, however, as Benavides said he has seen that system cause problems when someone misses a number. He also said there were time and cost concerns.

Benavides acknowledged a long history of problems in Rio Rancho dating back five to six years. Although he did not speculate on their cause, he did say he needed time to make repairs.

"What I found isn't something that's easy to fix," Benavides said. "I ask for your patience. It's not going to be that long, believe me."

Benavides, who made the uncommon move of approaching Rio Rancho residents, said he will do it again to hear how things are going.

"I want to come before you four months from now and ask, 'How are we doing?'" he said.

Despite all the promises made, one resident did not feel her concern was addressed.

"This discussion of getting your mail a little early is lost on me, because I'm not getting my mail at all," said Rio Ranchoan Carol Phares.

Following her comments, many others joined in, saying they received the wrong mail or others got their mail, all of which is an identity theft risk.

For Phares and others throughout the event, Benavides sent his employees to get more details with the promise to address these individual efforts quickly.

After the meeting, many of the attendees were cautiously optimistic.

"We've received promises before," said Reece Lebow of Rio Rancho.

Others said it sounded goood, with the emphasis on "sounded." More said they expected a little to get fixed, but not much.

Erica Fletcher, 13, however, gave a flat-out "no" when asked if the situation would improve.

"They really didn't even address the problem," she said. "All he cares about is cost."