Council Moves Toward Banning Skateboarders at Ventura Mall

A popular bumper sticker reads, “Skateboarding Is Not a Crime,” but skateboard riders who dare to cruise through a busy Ventura strip mall will soon be cited for breaking the law.

The Ventura City Council on Monday night voted to draft a measure banning skateboarders from the Borchard Shopping Center at Thompson Boulevard and Borchard Drive.

The move came at the request of merchants who said they have had enough of brazen riders.

A few business owners told the council during a public hearing that some of the riders have harassed customers, stopped traffic and marked up walls and sidewalks with the wheels of their skateboards.

“It’s an out-of-control problem,” said David DiTomaso, owner of a Subway sandwich shop at the center. “Dozens of times I’ve asked them to please stop skating. They’re constantly banging up against the walls. It’s just too dangerous.”

Stan Alameida, owner of Pickwick Fish & Chips, agreed.

“They’re oblivious to the traffic and the pedestrians,” he said. “They act like it’s their world and they’re just having fun. But sooner or later someone is going to get hurt.”

Michael Chase, property manager of the center, said the owners recently spent $20,000 to paint the buildings.

Before the job was even finished, he said, the walls were scuffed by skateboarders. In addition, he said, “there have been a number of incidents where they run into customers. They openly defy people.”

Once the ban is adopted, the shopping center will be the first location in Ventura that the council has put off-limits to skateboard riding.

None of the five council members present at the Monday night meeting objected to the measure. Councilman James L. Monahan said he has almost been hit by skateboarders.

“We hate to take away something from everyone because of a few,” Councilman Jack Tingstrom said. “Steps have to be taken now.”

The measure is expected to receive routine approval next week. Those who violate the law will be ticketed and fined, but the amount has not been determined.

“It only applies to one shopping center,” said Everett Millais, the city’s director of community development. “This does not ban skateboarding in the city, and there is no interest to do that.”

But several boys who were riding their skateboards at the Borchard center Monday afternoon said they believe that the ban will start a citywide trend.

“Pretty soon we’ll have nowhere to skate,” said Eric Yenney, 11. “It just seems like we’re criminals.”

Danny Elam, 12, added: “We’re just out here to have a good time. We’re just misunderstood. It’s unfair.”

Dave Simmons, the owner of Dave’s Skateboards on Main Street, said he would like to see city officials build a place where the skateboarders can ride.

The closest facility built for skateboard riding is in Goleta, Simmons said.

As a result, he said, Ventura riders usually end up cruising through strip mall parking lots and along drainage ditches.

“An alternative place would be nice,” he said. “But it does cost some money.”

Jay Vonesh, 28, an avid skateboarder, agreed.

“I saw a sign in Anaheim that said, ‘Kids Don’t Need Drugs, Just Places to Skate,’ ” he said. “It’s true.”