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San Francisco Officials Respond to Elon Musk’s Plans to Relocate X Headquarters
City officials in San Francisco are largely unconcerned by Elon Musk’s announcement regarding the relocation of the X headquarters to Austin, Texas. City Attorney David Chiu expressed a sentiment shared by many residents, stating, “good riddance,” during a conversation with The New York Times.
Musk decided to move X following the passage of California legislation aimed at preventing the forced outing of LGBTQ+ students in schools. This decision underscores a growing divide between Musk’s business interests and his controversial stances on social issues.
Additionally, Musk has previously been criticized for promoting anti-trans content on his platform, including by his own transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. His departure from California appears to be influenced by a combination of regulatory dissatisfaction and personal convictions.
Musk’s grievances extend beyond political issues; he has also raised concerns about San Francisco’s “gross receipt tax.” In a post on X, he mentioned that even a significant improvement in the city’s crime situation would not make it feasible for the platform to operate there, especially in regard to launching payment services.
Details surrounding the timeline for the move remain vague. Reports indicate that X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, informed staff about plans to establish offices in San Jose and Palo Alto, both of which are still located within California. In a memo, she emphasized that the decision is crucial for the long-term health of the company.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed acknowledged that she had interacted with Musk previously but did not engage in negotiations to persuade him to maintain X’s presence in the city. “I’m not going to beg anybody,” she remarked, suggesting that Musk’s shift towards a conservative political stance might be a factor in his decision to leave.
Ted Egan, the chief economist for San Francisco, noted that the impact of X’s departure would be minimal, as the company’s presence in the city had diminished significantly already. “In many respects, they were already gone,” he commented, reflecting a broader consensus among local officials.
Musk’s tenure at the now-rebranded X has been marked by turbulence, particularly following his acquisition of Twitter in 2022, which involved significant layoffs that affected hundreds of employees. His leadership style and decisions have increasingly drawn scrutiny, further complicating his relationship with both staff and the communities impacted by his business operations.
Representatives for Musk did not respond promptly to inquiries regarding the planned relocation from Business Insider.
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