Playing Politics With America’s Playgrounds

Bill Wade’s article “Letting Priceless Treasure Slip Away” (Opinion, July 4) was right on the mark. The Bush administration has politicized the national parks like none other in our history. Park superintendents have been instructed to refer to staffing and service cutbacks as “service adjustments,” admittedly so as not to alarm Congress and the public during this election year. Park managers have been coerced into lobbying for administration-supported bills, a violation of the law, by the current management of the National Park Service. Those who speak in favor of the administration’s viewpoint are rewarded, and those who do not are punished. U.S. Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers was placed on administrative leave last December, where she remains today, after she told the truth to Congress about staffing shortages.

The excessive politicization of the national parks by the Bush administration needs to be stopped. Kudos to the Coalition of Retired National Park Employees for speaking out and exposing this situation.

Edward Patrovsky

Apple Valley, Calif.