A giant, glowing X marks the San Francisco spot where Elon Musk says he plans to keep his company, the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter. But city officials and some residents are unhappy with the display.
On Friday, the company erected an "X" logo on the
roof of its Market Street headquarters, to the chagrin of neighbours who
complained about intrusive lights, and San Francisco's Department of Building
Inspection which said it is investigating the structure.
The move followed a post from Musk, the enigmatic
billionaire who acquired the company in October for $44 billion announcing the
newly named firm would remain in San Francisco despite what he termed the
city's recent "doom spiral, with one company after another left or
leaving."
Musk, who also is CEO of electric car maker Tesla, moved
that company's headquarters from California to Texas in 2021. Keeping X in San
Francisco could be a good sign for a city that has struggled to bounce back
from tourism and business losses sustained during the pandemic.
Its downtown region is struggling with job cuts in the tech
sector, the departure of major retailers, and reduced tourism. Traffic has
fallen as more people work from home, while high-profile crime and homelessness
have tarnished the city's image.
"Beautiful San Francisco, though others forsake you, we
will always be your friend," Musk wrote.
Yet not all San Franciscans are keen for Musk's friendship.
Locals over the weekend recorded video of the giant X glowing, pulsing and
strobing, with some criticizing its intrusive lights.
X user @itsmefrenchy123 said they would be "LIVID"
over the bright logo, imagining it "right across from your bedroom."
"I'm just astounded at the flagrant lack of
consideration for anyone ever," wrote X user @DollyMarlowe.
San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection,
meanwhile, opened an investigation into the structure, saying it might be in
violation of permitting rules.
A BID inspector said in a written report that company
representatives denied roof access, twice, to BID officials seeking to inspect
the logo. The inspector noted one representative said the sign was temporary.
A BID spokesperson could not immediately be reached on
Sunday. © Reuters