VENTURA : Court OKs Evicting Harbor Restaurant

The Ventura Port District, co-owner of the Ventura Harbor Village, has been given court approval to evict a Mexican restaurant whose owner has sued the district alleging harassment and racial discrimination.

The Superior Court judgment against La Marina Cantina was issued Friday for failure to pay rent and to meet other obligations. It is the latest in a string of court disputes between harbor merchants and the district, property managers and Great Western Bank, which co-owns the property.

Francisco Rangel, the restaurant’s owner, said Monday that he has no intention of honoring an eviction notice expected to be served on him by this afternoon. Rangel would then have six days to vacate the property. Rangel said his attorney will challenge the judgment.

In February, Rangel sued the district and its property manager, Newman Properties, claiming they were trying to force him out because of past complaints and because he is a Latino.

District General Manager Richard Parsons has called the discrimination claim baseless. John McNamara, the district’s lawyer, said Rangel has failed to pay $2,750 in monthly rent and common charges since February and has refused to provide receipts to calculate additional rent based on a percentage of his restaurant’s revenues.

Several harbor merchants also have filed a joint suit against the owners and property managers.

They have claimed they were promised improvements to attract tourists, that have never been made.