San Francisco city officials have raised concerns and launched an investigation into a large “X” sign recently installed on top of a downtown building, previously known as the Twitter headquarters, by Elon Musk. The sign is part of Musk’s efforts to rebrand the social media platform.
City authorities have pointed out that any modifications to letters or symbols on buildings, including the addition of signs on top, require a permit to ensure compliance with design and safety regulations, as reported by AP.
San Francisco police intervened on Monday when workers tried to remove the iconic bird and logo of Twitter from the building’s side. The police cited safety concerns as the workers had not taken the necessary precautions, like taping off the sidewalk, to protect pedestrians from potential falling objects.
Patrick Hannan, the spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspection, emphasized the city’s requirement for a permit before installing any replacement letters or symbols. He stressed that such permits are essential to preserve the historical integrity of the building and ensure the secure attachment of new additions to the sign.
Hannan also clarified that a permit is mandatory for erecting a sign on top of a building. He further explained that the installation of the “X” sign would require planning review and approval. Consequently, the city has initiated a complaint and launched an investigation in response to the matter.
Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter for $44 billion last year, introduced the new “X” logo to replace the iconic blue bird. The “X” logo has started appearing on the desktop version of Twitter. Musk, also the CEO of Tesla, has a fascination with the letter “X” and renamed Twitter’s corporate name to X Corp. His child is known by a name comprising letters and symbols. On Friday, a worker made adjustments to the sign before leaving.
