I have to say that the Congressman route worked - as surprising as that is. I had an email chain waiting for me the next day. It traveled through the IRS and to a tax advocate. I had zero success contacting either before the congressman's office intervened.
So, the news - they would do well to post it on the IRS website - is this: June 1, the first IRS campus opened, to be followed by another every two weeks. Mailed returns will get priority. I wasn't given specifics on the order of locations, but it's 200% of the info had before - plus I have a tax advocate as a contact.
Thanks to all who responded!
