Destruction of Tables in Venice Draws Criticism : Vandalism: Despite charges of vigilantism from youths and others, many residents say the action was justified to curb noise and violence.

Tempers erupted on the Venice boardwalk Monday after a weekend incident in which a group of residents, angered by nighttime carousing and fights on the popular walkway, pulverized four concrete-and-marble picnic tables with sledgehammers.

On Monday morning, a group of youths showed up at the site and denounced a man whom they accused of taking part in the attack.

“You’re a vigilante!” one of the youths yelled at the man.

The man, who later acknowledged taking part in the incident, said he did so because the tables--on Ocean Front Walk, near Westminster Avenue--attract such a noisy and violent nighttime crowd that they have become a public nuisance.

“You’ve got a bunch of 19-year-old kids that are running this street,” he said. “The fear here is unbelievable. . . . We had the silent approval from the whole community. People were cheering--we even had a woman take a few swings.”

The vandalism took place Sunday morning after what residents contend has been years of loud noise, drug dealing, gang fights and crime at the table area. In interviews Monday, several residents said they are glad that the tables are gone.

Sgt. Frank Montelongo of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Division beach unit said detectives have not been able to find anyone who admits to witnessing the vandalism.

“It is just amazing to me that there were three or four people out there busting up tables and none of the residents saw anything,” said Montelongo, adding that patrols in the area are doubled in the summer because of the seasonal increase in visitors. “What was the motive? I’ll only know that once we interview a suspect.”

Montelongo said the Pacific Division gets calls about drug dealing, transients and gang activity at Westminster Avenue and Ocean Front Walk infrequently compared to the number of complaints about similar activities in some low-income areas of Venice and Mar Vista.

“When we get calls, we respond promptly,” Montelongo said. “Either we make an arrest or we shoo them away.”

But many residents of apartment buildings near the boardwalk say police unresponsiveness fueled the frustration that led to the destruction of the tables.

“Sometimes you have to tear the house up to get the rat out,” said one apartment dweller who declined to be identified for fear of retaliation. “We have complained and complained and complained to the police and they will not stop here. . . . It was intolerable.”

Said another resident: “At 3 in the morning people are wandering around yelling and screaming. At night the tourists are gone, but this beach doesn’t close. I’m really happy the tables are gone. Maybe I can sleep now.”

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter said Monday that such sentiment does not justify vigilantism.

“I do not believe it is appropriate for parks to be inhospitable to visitors (by removing seating),” said Galanter, whose district includes Venice. “If it’s a drug dealing problem, it is a police problem. We have augmented beach patrols. Residents can identify (the alleged offenders) and help with their arrest. Vandalizing public property is not the way to solve the problem and it certainly is not the way we want responsible citizens and their children to behave.”

Some boardwalk bystanders Monday expressed similar views.

“The guys who did this may have some legitimate complaints but went about it the wrong way,” said Rick Alexander, 25, a Venice resident. “If they want to change this area so badly, they should really change their address. These problems are just part of living here.”

Mark Ryavec, executive director of the Venice Boardwalk Assn., a group representing merchants in the area, said the oceanside picnic spot has remained a problem despite various attempts to deal with it. He pointed out that because of similar concerns, residents demolished a pagoda on the same spot five years ago.

“This locale has been a focal point for drug activity and has been out of control for years,” he said. “At least the (residents) didn’t hurt anyone. They just removed a public nuisance.”

One resident, however, said he feared that the weekend action might make matters worse. He and others who live in the Chaplin Apartments said youths swarmed through the building’s hallways early Sunday morning, banging on doors and demanding to know who destroyed the tables.

“This is their hangout spot,” the resident said. “They’re really (annoyed).”