Giant X sign taken off Twitter HQ in San Francisco within 3 days of Musk putting it there
The building had a Twitter logo and name on it prior to erection of the X. Photo: Social Media/DailyO
The giant glowing "X" sign, recently erected on top of the downtown San Francisco headquarters of X (formerly Twitter), has been taken down just days after its installation. The company now rebranded as "X" under Elon Musk's ownership, faced swift backlash as the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection received 24 complaints about the unpermitted structure.
Concerns ranged from structural safety issues to the intrusive illumination that disrupted the neighbourhood.
🚨#BREAKING: The large 𝕏 sign from X headquarters has been removed.
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 31, 2023
📌#SanFrancisco | #California
The large and bright '𝕏' logo that sat on top of the San Francisco headquarters of the company formerly known as Twitter has been taken down. The sign was installed Friday, and… pic.twitter.com/BpZ1hvAF0v
The removal
- Following the controversial installation of the massive "X" sign, city building inspectors saw the structure being dismantled on Monday (July 31), as the structure erected was illegal, as per the city administration.
- X claimed that the removal was voluntary, but the city Department of Building Inspection held the property owner responsible for the unpermitted installation, imposing fees accordingly.
- The law requires prior permission to remove, exchange or put letters and symbols to a building.
- There had been reports earlier stating that the officials were denied entry into the building to carry out inspections.
The chaotic removal of the "X" sign serves as a reminder that the transformation of the company goes beyond just a name change and requires careful consideration of its impact on the community.
Why?
- Locals living near the headquarters expressed frustration over the intrusive lights of the giant glowing X.
- Videos captured the sign pulsing and strobing, leading some to compare it to lightning and causing discomfort among residents. Speaking to The Guardian, Patricia Wallinga, a neighbour, described it as a "clown show" and raised concerns about safety.
- Attorney George Wolf criticised Musk for his unorthodox move, emphasising that community approval should have been sought before such a development took place.
- The city has been grappling with an exodus of companies out of the city, leading to what Musk termed a "doom spiral." However, his announcement of keeping X in San Francisco did little to quell the concerns surrounding his unusual practice of erecting a giant X, supported by a bunch of sandbags.
Well, the X signage episode, however, is not the first time when tensions between X and San Francisco's city officials brewed. In the past, the company faced investigations over allegations of converting rooms in its headquarters into sleeping quarters.
Moreover, Musk was accused of spreading misinformation after the high-profile killing of tech founder Bob Lee. Such controversies have raised concerns about the company's conduct and its impact on the city's reputation.