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San Francisco Starts Probe on Elon Musk’s Giant Flashing ‘X’ Sign on Twitter HQ
Elon Musk's massive “X” sign, which was put on the top of Twitter's San Francisco headquarters as part of his rebranding push, is being investigated by municipal officials for failing to get the required licenses. City officials sought to view the sign from the roof, but Twitter blocked their access.
According to the New York Times, municipal officials are investigating the big X sign that was placed on the roof of Twitter's San Francisco headquarters as part of its rebranding efforts because it did not have the necessary permits.
The X sign, which was placed on Friday, has caused debate owing to its continuous flashing. Regardless of whether the city has received complaints about the light pollution, officials have indicated that a building permit is essential to assure the structural integrity and safe installation of the sign.
“A building permit is required to make sure the sign is structurally sound and installed safely,” said Patrick Hannan, a spokesman for the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection. “Planning review and approval is also necessary for the installation of this sign.”
Despite the city’s attempts to inspect the sign, Twitter has denied access to its roof. The social media giant has defended the sign as a “temporary lighted sign for an event,” per a complaint filed with the city.
On Saturday, city inspectors sought to obtain access to the roof for the second time but were denied admission by the renter. Twitter has yet to reply to inquiries about the matter.
Matt Dorsey, the District 6 supervisor who covers the area of town where Twitter's headquarters is located, voiced his displeasure with the company's failure to comply with building inspectors. He extended an olive branch in the hopes of changing Twitter's attitude.
“I would like to sort of extend an olive branch,” Dorsey said. “I think there’s a lot of people in city government who would welcome the opportunity to work with a large employer like X, and let’s figure out what we’re going to do with the sign, but we can have a good productive partnership with a city employer.”
This is not the first time Twitter has been criticized for its signage. Previously, San Francisco police delayed the removal of the brand's famous bird insignia off the building's façade, citing pedestrian safety concerns. A complaint was also made with the city over the removal of the sign. The ‘X' sign was put up shortly after the old sign was taken down.
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