Memorial Plaque at Channel Islands

* Re “Plaque Caught Between a Rock and Park Service,” Ventura County Life column, Aug. 22.

Once again, the issue of poor management practices at Channel Islands National Park is being raised. Since Tim Setnicka was promoted to superintendent the list of “public relations blunders” has snowballed. Do we recall fishermen picketing the park headquarters, the heritage horse herd, the Raid, hantavirus and now the plaque?

Setnicka did not order the removal of the plaque because it is “personal property” but because it represented something placed on the island with the concurrence of Francis Gherini and Island Adventures who together had been a thorn is his fist of management.

There really was no reason to remove the plaque. I hesitate to point out that it had been placed in the base of a really fantastic stone barbecue built by Island Adventures, lest Setnicka order its demolition. If the barbecue can remain (and be used by park rangers) why can’t the plaque be replaced?

There is a precedent for the placement of memorial plaques in Channel Islands National Park. There are memorials to Bill Connaly of Island Packers, Randy Ehorn (the former superintendent’s son) and a park volunteer already placed on park (public) property. Again I hesitate to point them out lest Setnicka order their removal just to prove that his management of plaques is without prejudice.

Tim Setnicka’s management bias should not be allowed to disturb the past. If something needs to be removed, perhaps it is a biased management. Let the friends of Capt. Ken Walden reinstall the plaque that they placed in memory of a departed comrade.

WILLIAM BUDD

Ventura