SAN FRANCISCO – A massive “X” sign that appeared briefly on the rooftop of Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco is now the subject of an investigation by city officials due to alleged permit violations. The sign was installed as part of the company’s recent rebranding efforts. However, it seems the flashy display caught the attention of authorities for failing to obtain proper permits for its installation.
The Issue
According to Patrick Hannan, a spokesman for the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection, the company must obtain a building permit to ensure the structural safety and secure installation of such signs. Furthermore, the installation also requires planning review and approval from the city.
A complaint was filed with the city after an inspector visited Twitter’s headquarters on Friday to address the violation and request access to inspect the sign on the roof. Twitter representatives informed the inspector that the sign was a “temporary lighted sign for an event.” However, when city inspectors attempted a second inspection on Saturday, access to the roof was denied once again by the tenant.
Matt Dorsey, the District 6 supervisor representing the area where Twitter’s headquarters are located, expressed concerns about the company’s response to the investigation. Dorsey hoped for a more cooperative approach and encouraged Twitter to work with the city government to resolve the issue and maintain a productive partnership.
This is not the first time Twitter has faced issues related to signage. On Monday, San Francisco police prevented workers from removing the company’s iconic bird logo from the building’s side, citing safety concerns. The workers had not taken the necessary precautions to tape off the sidewalk, risking potential harm to pedestrians if anything fell during the removal process.
‘X’ logo installed atop Twitter’s building, spurring San Francisco to investigate permit violation
Twitter’s Rebranding
The recent rebranding and installation of the “X” sign have stirred mixed reactions on social media. Some criticized the bright flashing lights of the sign, which reportedly caused disturbances to nearby residents in apartments.
The rebranding effort was initiated shortly after tech billionaire Elon Musk purchased Twitter for a staggering $44 billion the previous year. Musk had hinted at a major change in the platform’s identity on Twitter, stating that the “twitter brand” and “all the birds” would gradually be bid adieu. Subsequently, Twitter officially unveiled its new logo about 24 hours after Musk’s tweet.
Twitter has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the investigation. As the city’s authorities continue to look into the matter, the fate of the controversial “X” sign remains uncertain.
