Platform : Venice Vandalism: ‘Vigilantism Is Not the Way to Solve Problems’

On Aug. 28, four concrete tables along the Venice Boardwalk that had been the site of nighttime noise and violence were pulverized, some say by a group of sledgehammer-wielding residents. Some call the vandalism vigilantism; others say the unresponsiveness of officials to complaints fueled the frustration. Here’s how several Southern Californians see it:

JOEL POST

Homeowner, Fairfax district, Los Angeles

Vigilantism is abhorrent to the average citizen. Yet the homeowners or renters who are the heart and soul of a community are made to feel powerless, frustrated and completely left out when they try to work within the system. They are confronted by unsympathetic, unresponsive municipal agencies who all claim to be so overworked and understaffed that they “have to deal with the bigger problems first.” We need a system of community ombudsmen who can access and mobilize municipal agencies so that minor problems can be effectively dealt with before they become major problems that destroy neighborhoods.

MARK RYAVEC

Executive director, Venice Boardwalk Assn.

I do not condone or accept vigilantism as an appropriate way to solve problems. That said, I think we see things occur because we no longer have local government in this society which provides the tools for people to solve these neighborhood problems themselves.

In Venice there are four interrelated problems: homelessness, drug dealing, vandalism and noise. The immediate answer is regular police presence. It’s interesting that this council district voted for more police; but the Valley voted at such low levels it dragged down the citywide vote. Basically, the people in the Valley keep us from having enough cops that, by a two-thirds vote, we are willing to pay for.

When L.A. was founded, you had 15 council members for 100,000 people. You now have 15 council members representing 3.5 million. Those council people and their staffs cannot duplicate the level of attention to community problems available in smaller cities.

JEFFERSON DAVIS

Apartment manager, Venice

Four years ago there were the old pagodas in front of our building and someone was so frustrated because nobody would do anything he took a pickup truck and demolished them. And it was much much quieter. Then they put those tables there and all of a sudden it was back to where we were.

Beginning a year and a half ago we sent a petition to Ruth Galanter’s office signed by all 31 tenants that said that those tables were put there illegally, without a permit from the California Coastal Commission. We were calling the police three or four times a night. One tenant called because someone was selling a gun there. They (sold) drugs and the noise level was unbelievable. We started going to the Venice city meetings as a group and said we want those tables removed. The community knew what was going on; and they were aware that something had to be done with those tables.

LINDA LUCKS

Chairwoman of Venice Beach Area Police Advisory Council

Vigilantism frightens me. I cannot condone taking the law into one’s own hands under any circumstances, even though I certainly understand the feelings of frustration and anger that people feel when a problem is not easily resolved.

The fact is the tables were installed without permits and the Recreation and Parks Commission ordered its staff to go back and get permits or else remove them immediately. As far as I know, nothing was done. Residents unhappy with the situation had various options they could have pursued--the local council office, the police advisory council, the media. To my knowledge, none were explored. The perpetrators were just too lazy and impatient to do it the right way.

ROBERT HELTON

Lieutenant, Santa Ana Police Department

We’ve had situations where, at a meeting, citizens will become very vocal, frustrated, and say ‘If you can’t deal with the problem, we will.’ That’s when we have to establish a dialogue and point out that law enforcement’s not their responsibility. They can make citizens’ arrests, but what if they confront an armed individual?

What they don’t realize is that we have at our disposal a variety of other resources--code enforcement, planning and building--we can go to within city government. We try to find out exactly what their problem is, develop a strategy, put them in touch with the people who can help them and get them to step back and really take a broader look at the picture.

DIANE BUSH

Venice Action Committee board member

I cannot condone vigilantism at all. I think the incident was the result of a pressure valve that was released. That doesn’t make it right. But sometimes you can only take so much and then you have to blow off steam.

It’s been very frustrating. We’re always being told that if we choose to live at the beach that we have to accept the noise and the crowds. All of us know, and I think accept, that. I wouldn’t live anyplace else in this world. I just wish that our city government was more responsive to the people they work for.

Compiled for The Times by James Blair.