The home of Elon Musk SpaceX Rocket Company is on the way to becoming an official city with a galactic name: Starbase.
A vote on Saturday to officially organize Starbase as a city was approved by a small group of voters who live there, and are mainly approved by a one -sided lead and mainly Musk’s employees of SpaceX.
Starbase is the facility and the starting point for the SpaceX rocket program, which signs with the Ministry of Defense and the NASA, which hopes to return astronauts back to the moon and one day.
Musk first enforced the idea of Starbase in 2021, and the approval of the new city was almost certain. Of the 283 authorized voters in the region, most are considered a Starbase worker.
The election victory of US President Donald Trump last November was personally for Musk. The popularity of the billionaire has decreased since he became the public face of the chainsaw of the Trump government’s federal and spending cuts, and the profits in his Tesla car company have been made.
SpaceX has generally received widespread support from local officials for his jobs and investments in the region.
However, the creation of an official company Town also attracted critics who are worried that she will expand the personal control of Musk across the area with potential authority to close a popular beach and a popular state park for starts.
The accompanying efforts of the city work include draft laws in state legislation in order to shift this authority from the district to the mayor and the city council of the new city.
All of these measures are carried out when SpaceX calls the federal authorities to increase the number of introduction of south texas from five to 25 per year.
The city on the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border is only about 3.9 square kilometers, crossed by a few streets and with air force hangers and modest houses in the middle of the century.
Beach access to a point of dispute among locals
SpaceX officers said little about why they want a company city and did not answer on inquiries about comments.
“We need the ability to expand Starbase as a community,” said Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders in 2024 to the local officials with the request to bring the city’s problem into the ballot.
The letter states that the company already manages roads and supply companies as well as “the provisions of school education and medical care” for those who live on the property.
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SpaceX officers have informed the legislators that the granting of the city authority would rationalize the starting process to close the beach. SpaceX Rocket Harts and Motor Test, and even moving certain devices around the starting basis, requires the closure of a local highway and access to the Boca Chica State Park and the Boca Chica Beach.
Critics say that the beach closing authority should remain with the district government that represents a wider population that uses the beach and the park. The judge of Cameron County, Eddie Trevino Jr., said that the district worked well with SpaceX and there is no need for changes.
Another proposed legislation would make class B offenses with up to 180 days in prison if someone does not take the command to evacuate the beach.
The South Texas Environmental Justice Network, which organized protests against the city’s vote and the beach access problem, organized another demonstration on Saturday, the dozens of people attracted people.
Josette Hinojosa, whose young daughter built near Sandbahlen, said she had participated to try to ensure further access to a beach that her family had enjoyed for generations.
With SpaceX, Hinojosa said: “On some days it is closed and on a few days they will be turned away.”
The organizer Christopher Basaldú, a member of the Carrizo/ComeCrudo Nation of Texas tribe, said his ancestors have long been in the area where the Rio Grande hits the Golf.
“It is not only important,” he said, “it’s sacred.”
