Miami Lakes’ efforts to have its own independent zip code piqued the interest of U.S. Senator and Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio.
According to a missive dated June 17, 2015 that Rubio wrote to U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan, the senator is pressing the Washington D.C.-based office to come to a decision on Miami Lakes’ appeal for a zip code after the town’s request was denied earlier this year.
In March, the USPS informed Miami Lakes that the town’s FOIA request had been denied because “such records” would fall under the FOIA exemption, a federal law which applies to information that is exempt from disclosure under another federal statue. Information of a commercial nature, including trade secrets, whether or not obtained from a person outside the postal service, which under good business practice would not be publicly disclosed.
Rubio’s letter said, in part, “I am writing to follow-up on a Freedom of Information Act request that was made by the city of Miami Lakes on December 19, 2014 seeking information on their prior request for a zip code boundary change and subsequent denial,” Rubio wrote in the letter. “In response to their FOIA denial, Miami Lakes sent an appeal request on April 10 to the Chief Counsel of Customer Programs at the USPS and is awaiting a response. I respectfully request, within all applicable rules and regulations, for the full and fair consideration of Miami Lakes’ FOIA request and would appreciate a response on this matter. Thank you in advance and I look forward to your response.”
Rubio's request on behalf of Miami Lakes is a glimmer of hope, as the town has been fighting for years to gain its own independent zip code to help lower car insurance and homeowners insurance premiums, among other issues.
The three zip codes Miami Lakes uses are registered with the city of Hialeah Postmaster.
Since he was elected to political office in 2014, Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Manny Cid has been leading the charge for an independent zip code, which is also on the agenda of U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart.
Cid called for a straw vote in 2014 to determine if residents want the town to resume pursuing its own zip code. Residents overwhelmingly approved the initiative.
“Our Town is very fortunate to have two great public servants representing us in the nations Capitol,” Cid said. “Senator Rubio and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart are diligently working to ensure that our residents voices are heard and respected. Senator Rubio took time out of his busy schedule to voice his support of our zip code initiative. We still have a lot of work ahead of us but we are closer to our goal of an independent zip code.”