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Tampa Councilwoman Apologizes To Ikea

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 25, 2008

TAMPA - Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena has apologized to Ikea.

She said she is sorry for her "strong language," and she hopes to make amends by taking the Ikea president out for a Cuban sandwich and a cup of café con leche.

"In my passion about environmental sustainability and urban design issues, I went too far and lost my perspective," Saul-Sena wrote to Ikea President Pernille Lopez.

It's the latest twist in a tiff that started a few weeks ago, when Saul-Sena wrote a letter on council stationery threatening to post a video on YouTube about the project. Saul-Sena cast the lone no vote during rezoning hearings last summer, saying the project wasn't environmentally friendly.

In response to Saul-Sena's letter, Mark Huey, city economic development administrator, wrote a letter to the furniture giant to assure the company that the city welcomes the store, which is slated to open in summer 2009 on Adamo Drive.

Last week, Councilman Joseph Caetano tried to get the council to agree to have the city council attorney write a letter to Ikea reaffirming the council's approval of the company's plan to build a Tampa store. He didn't get enough votes, but his frustration with the situation was palpable.

Saul-Sena couldn't be reached Friday. In her letter, she said she still urges the company to build a better structure. She also said she looks forward to welcoming Ikea to Tampa.

The letter, too, was written on city council stationery.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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