Letter: Burbank seems to cater to IKEA
The Burbank City Council approved the renaming of a portion of First Street to IKEA Way in order to help reduce confusion among shoppers traveling to the Swedish retailers future store, which will be its largest in the United States when completed.
It is pretty mind boggling that part of First Street will be renamed “IKEA Way” in order to raise the new store’s profile and ostensibly make it easier for potential customers to find the monstrosity that is currently under construction.
This is only the latest giveaway by an esteemed City Council which was so desperate to keep the IKEA name in Burbank that the true approval process for the project was done before it began. Not only will this new store completely disrupt traffic patterns and quality of life in the adjacent neighborhoods, in addition to potentially threatening pedestrian safety, but now having a familiar street with a new name must be added to that mix.
It appears that this City Council will bend over backward to do anything within its authority to please a corporate entity that has a very questionable history. I’m sure that there will be more benefits for IKEA that we are still unaware of.
The perceived importance of IKEA is being given top priority over residents and surrounding businesses. That should not be acceptable simply because it is approved by our so-called leaders, individuals who were elected by a very small percentage of eligible voters. Perhaps the City Council should relocate its meetings to the IKEA premises instead of City Hall. That would be most appropriate.
Thomas Saito
Burbank