San Franciscans are already fed up with the X-file that Elon Musk has put together since he bought Twitter. And this is just the beginning.
The city of the Californian bay welcomed with open arms the headquarters of the technology in the urban center a few years ago. There were certain signs of decay. The number of the homeless was growing and there were more and more people without direction due to the impact of drugs.
The local authorities saw in these investments an engine to revitalize that area. Some time later, all those dreams have gone down the drain. The invasion of wealthy tech employees had a gentrifying effect. Real estate prices rose, and lifelong residents had to move away or simply stayed on the street.
It was even a grievance that companies set up bus lines that transported their wealthy employees while the rest suffered the deterioration of public service.
But there was a certain comfort in the messages of love and support for the city in the midst of its progressive deterioration. That consolation has ended with the arrival of Musk, after buying the blue bird company for 44,000 million dollars in October 2022. Unlike previous managers, his comments lack any love for San Francisco and he has dedicated himself to denigrating it , several times with lies.
His challenge to the good coexistence with the municipality and the neighbors has been reinforced after the decision to rename the company as X. At the beginning of last week there was a first incident when, as if he were the master of the city, he ordered that remove the name of Twitter from the facade of the headquarters. A huge crane cut off traffic, to the anger of drivers and passers-by. Given the lack of permits, the Consistory ordered to stop immediately. He stayed the “ER”.
The escalation was even higher. Again without any authorization, a giant X appeared on the roof of the building on Friday, the lighting of which was like having the sun at its peak.
The city opened an investigation to debug responsibility for that urban intervention without permission, while residents of the area filled the networks with complaints, including one that still retains the title of Twitter in the messages, when it was impossible to be at home invaded by that light.
"A municipal permit is needed to ensure that this infrastructure fits and is safely installed," Patrick Hannan, spokesman for the municipal Department of Building Inspection, stressed in a statement on Sunday. "Review and approval of the planning for the installation of this sign is also required," he added. An inspector went to the building to notify this order. Company officials denied inspectors access to the roof on Saturday. An employee assured that they had only illuminated that device "for an event."
Musk's attitude is not considered friendly by either City Hall or the neighborhood. Christopher Beale hung a picture of her from her apartment in a blinding light. "This is my life now," he wrote.
The signs of anger only increased. "Imagine this fucking X from your bedroom!" Another exclaimed with signs of little affection for Musk. Patricia Wallinga, who lives in that area, told CBS that this was dangerous and a hoax.
“I thought it was lightning. She was very confused. I looked out the window and didn't see anything, maybe it was a police siren,” she recounted. When the lightning was repeated, she understood everything. “I am stumped by the lack of consideration,” another chimed in. Luckily for the neighbors, the light went out on Sunday due to municipal pressure and it has already been removed from the roof.
According to information from the US network CNBC, the Building Inspection Department of San Francisco (USA) received 24 complaints from residents and city officials alleging that the sign was not safe, that it had been placed without permission and that it was annoying to the residents.
The office also noted that the owner will have to pay fees for the impermissible installation of the construction and dismantling of the sign, as well as the cost of the investigation.
