ZIP code issue still a top priority, Ocoee leaders say

OCOEE – The city of Ocoee hosted a city hall meeting July 25 to update Ocoee residents on ongoing efforts to change the ZIP code for those who live in Ocoee but do not have an Ocoee ZIP code. 

Not having an Ocoee ZIP code — despite having been annexed into the city years ago — has frustrated residents who live in the Rose Hill, Lake Lilly Oaks and Forest Lake Estates communities. 

Despite residing in Ocoee’s geographical boundaries, the residents in attendance had ZIP codes pertaining to Apopka, Gotha, Orlando and Pine Hills. And although the city has made efforts to change their ZIP codes, so far it has not been successful. 

“This issue has not fallen on deaf ears,” said District 2 Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen. “We have worked for the past eight to nine years on this ... and we know your zip code has a lot to do with your identity. ... We do understand, and we’re very concerned.” 

However, for some residents, the issue goes beyond having a sense of identity and city pride. Those who attended the meeting said their assigned ZIP code also result in higher homeowner and car insurance premiums, which are determined based on ZIP codes.

“It’s that ZIP — it’s crazy,” said 36-year Ocoee resident Susan Bailey, who lives in the Rose Hill community. “It’s driving everyone in our neighborhood crazy. Rose Hill is in Ocoee, yet we’re still 32818. Therefore, we’re in a high-crime zone. Ocoee’s not a high-crime zone, but our ZIP code is. But we’re in a great neighborhood, we’re just right next to Pine Hills.” 

THE STRUGGLE 

State Sen. Randolph Bracy, who has been lobbying on behalf of the city on the ZIP code issue, gave a chronological timeline of everything the city has done in the past 10 years to tackle the issue, as well as the plan moving forward. 

To date, Bracy explained, the city has reached out to the local and state postal offices, as well as the state and federal government. The city’s numerous efforts to convince the local and state postal service offices to change the ZIP codes were unsuccessful. 

“It’s really not the postal carrier,” said Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson. “I was personally a postal carrier for about 28 years. It’s the guy sitting in the postal manager position — he’s the one making the money. He gets paid off of how many routes he’s got. So he doesn’t want to give it up because he’s getting paid for it. The bigger his post office is, the more money he’s making.” 

After negotiations broke down with the postal offices, the city instead sought help from the state but also was met with opposition. 

“We were met with the same obstacles,” Bracy said. “The state entity basically supported the state postal agency. From there, the city went to the postmaster general in D.C. Letters were sent, we solicited help from senators to no avail.” 

Once the state denied the request, the city decided to go through the federal Legislature. The request to have the ZIP code changed was included in a postal reform bill titled HR6303 in 2016. Although it passed the House, it died in the Senate. 

WHAT NOW? 

However, the city is trying again, Bracy added. The title of the new federal bill that replaced HR6303 is titled HR756, and it also has a companion bill in the Senate. 

“Because of politics (HR6303) did not pass,” Bracy said. “It did not pass the finish line. So here we are again, and we’re kind of in the same position ... but I’m hopeful we can get it across the finish line this year. So right now, it is waiting to be heard.” 

One resident questioned whether the city had anticipated it would run into this many problems in its quest to change the ZIP codes. District 4 Commissioner Joel Keller said the city did not expect it because 10 years ago, changing ZIP codes was an easier process and they had seen other municipalities succeed. 

Some residents said they regret annexing into the city, given how long the process has taken. Audie Bailey, who lives in Rose Hill, said if he had known this would hap- pen, he would have never agreed to annex into the city. 

“It’s not about persecution of the post office,” he said. “To me, this is just common sense. But again, if you’d had told me we wouldn’t be getting an Ocoee ZIP code when we voted for an annexation, I would’ve said no. Everyone in that room would’ve said no.” 

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Contact Gabby Baquero at [email protected]