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Tampa Councilwoman Apologizes To Ikea

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

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

She said she was sorry for her "strong language" and hoped to make amends by taking the Ikea president out for a Cuban sandwich and a cup of cafe 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 was the latest twist in a tiff that started a few weeks ago, when Saul-Sena wrote a letter on city council stationery threatening to post a video on YouTube about the coming store 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, the city's economic development administrator, wrote a letter to Ikea to assure the furniture 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 panel to agree to have the city council attorney write a letter to Ikea reaffirming the council's approval of the company's plans for a Tampa store. He didn't get enough votes, but his frustration with the situation was palpable.
Ikea spokesman Joseph Roth said the company is committed to building a good store in Tampa. And he said he'd raise Saul-Sena's Cuban sandwich and cafe con leche offer to Swedish meatballs and Swedish coffee. Ikea has Swedish roots.

Saul-Sena could not 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.

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

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