The residents of San Francisco are fed up with the X-file that Elon Musk has put together since he bought Twitter. And that’s 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 homeless people was growing and there were more and more people without a direction due to the impact of drugs.
The local authorities saw the investments as an engine to revitalize the area. Some time later, all those dreams are gone. The invasion of wealthy tech workers had a gentrifying effect. Real estate prices soared 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 the rich employees while the rest suffered from the deterioration of public service.
But there was some solace in the messages of love and support for the city amid its progressive deterioration. The consolation has ended with the arrival of Musk, after buying the bluebird company for $44 billion in October 2022. Unlike previous managers, his comments lack love for San Francisco and has dedicated himself to denigrating her, several times with lies.
The challenge to good coexistence with the city and the neighbors has been reinforced after the decision to rename the company. At the beginning of last week there was a first incident when, as if he were the master of the city, he ordered that the Twitter name be removed from the facade of the central quarters. A huge crane cut off traffic, with drivers and passers-by getting wet. Faced with the lack of permits, the council ordered to stop immediately. “ER” remained.
The climbing went even further. 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 has opened an investigation to clear responsibility for the urban intervention without a permit, as residents of the area flooded the networks with complaints, one that still retains the Twitter title of the messages included, since it is impossible to be at home invaded by light.
“A municipal permit is required to ensure that the infrastructure fits and is installed safely,” Patrick Hannan, spokesman for the municipal building inspection department, said in a statement Sunday. “The review and approval of the planning is also necessary for the installation of this sign”, he clarified.
An inspector went to the building to serve the order. On Saturday, company officials denied inspectors access to the roof. An employee assured that they had only illuminated the artifact “for an event”.
Musk’s attitude is not considered friendly by the City Council or the neighborhood. Christopher Beale uploaded a picture from his flat, showing a blinding light. “This is my life now,” he wrote.
The signs of discomfort only increased. “Imagine this fucking X from your bedroom!” exclaimed another with little affection towards Musk. Patricia Wallinga, who lives in the area, told the CBS network that it was a danger and a joke.
“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,” he explained. When the lightning flashed again he understood everything. “I am perplexed by the lack of consideration”, intervened another.
Fortunately for the residents, the light was turned off on Sunday due to municipal pressure. But the question is: until when?