Giant Unauthorized ‘X’ Sign Sparks Investigation at Former Twitter HQ, San Francisco
In a surprising turn of events, a giant flashing X sign has been installed atop the building formerly known as Twitter headquarters in San Francisco. The installation, which took place without the city’s permission, has prompted an investigation by local authorities. The city claims that the company failed to obtain the necessary permits to ensure compliance with design and safety protocols.
According to Patrick Hannan, spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspection, any replacement signage must adhere to the historic nature of the building and be safely attached. Adding a sign to the top of a building also requires a permit. As a result, the city of San Francisco has initiated an investigation into the matter.
The controversy surrounding the unauthorized sign deepened when workers attempted to remove the platform’s bird logo from the outside of the building. San Francisco police intervened, stating that the sidewalk had not been closed to protect pedestrians from potential falling objects.
This development comes in the wake of Elon Musk’s efforts to rebrand the social media platform as X, a change he announced earlier this month. The X headquarters is conveniently located in downtown San Francisco, merely blocks away from City Hall. Interestingly, it is also situated directly across from a residential building.
Videos of the sign depict it flashing brightly, clearly visible from the street below. Musk, who acquired the platform previously known as Twitter for a staggering $44 billion last year, altered the company’s bird logo to an X, which now appears at the top of the desktop version of Twitter.
Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino has been vocal about the platform’s rebranding, suggesting that X will revolutionize the global town square. She envisions X as a platform that enables unlimited interactivity, incorporating audio, video, messaging, payments, and banking. It aims to create a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities, all powered by artificial intelligence. Yaccarino states that X will connect individuals across the globe in ways that are currently beyond our imagination.
Musk, known for his association with the letter X in both his personal and professional endeavors, is the CEO of SpaceX, a company focused on space exploration. He also founded X.com in the 1990s, which later became PayPal.
This unexpected installation of the unauthorized sign has certainly stirred up controversy in San Francisco and raised questions regarding the rebranding efforts. With an investigation underway, the future of the X sign remains uncertain. The city’s authorities are determined to ensure that the necessary permits and safety measures are followed, further emphasizing the significance of adhering to regulations when making any changes to historic buildings.
