The South Texas residence of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket firm is now an official metropolis with a galactic title: Starbase.
A vote Saturday to formally set up Starbase as a metropolis was accepted by a lopsided margin among the many small group of voters who stay there and are largely Musk’s workers at SpaceX.
With all of the votes in, the tally was 212 in favor to six in opposition to, in accordance with outcomes revealed on-line by the Cameron County Elections Division.
Musk celebrated in a submit on his social platform, X, saying it’s “now a real city!”
Starbase is the power and launch website for the SpaceX rocket program that’s beneath contract with the Division of Protection and NASA that hopes to ship astronauts again to the moon and sometime to Mars.
Musk first floated the thought of Starbase in 2021 and approval of the brand new metropolis was all however sure. Of the 283 eligible voters within the space, most are believed to be Starbase staff.
The election victory was private for Musk.
The billionaire’s recognition has diminished since he grew to become the chain-saw-wielding public face of President Donald Trump’s federal job and spending cuts, and earnings at his Tesla automobile firm have plummeted.
SpaceX has usually drawn widespread help from native officers for its jobs and funding within the space.
However the creation of an official firm city has additionally drawn critics who fear it is going to broaden Musk’s private management over the realm, with potential authority to shut a well-liked seashore and state park for launches.
Companion efforts to the town vote embody payments within the state Legislature to shift that authority from the county to the brand new city’s mayor and metropolis council.
All these measures come as SpaceX is asking federal authorities for permission to extend the variety of South Texas launches from 5 to 25 a 12 months.
Town on the southern tip of Texas close to the Mexico border is just about 1.5 sq. miles, crisscrossed by a number of roads and dappled with airstream trailers and modest midcentury houses.
SpaceX officers have stated little about precisely why they to need an organization city and didn’t reply to emailed requests for remark.
“We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community,” Starbase Normal Supervisor Kathryn Lueders wrote to native officers in 2024 with the request to get the town difficulty on the poll.
The letter stated the corporate already manages roads and utilities, in addition to “the provisions of schooling and medical care” for these residing on the property.
SpaceX officers have advised lawmakers that granting the town authority to shut the seashore would streamline launch operations. SpaceX rocket launches and engine exams, and even simply transferring sure gear across the launch base requires the closure of an area freeway and entry to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Seashore.
Critics say seashore closure authority ought to stick with the county authorities, which represents a broader inhabitants that makes use of the seashore and park. Cameron County Decide Eddie Trevino, Jr. has stated the county has labored nicely with SpaceX and there’s no want for change.
One other proposed invoice would make it a Class B misdemeanor with as much as 180 days in jail if somebody doesn’t adjust to an order to evacuate the seashore.
The South Texas Environmental Justice Community, which has organized protests in opposition to the town vote and the seashore entry difficulty, held one other demonstration Saturday that attracted dozens of individuals.
Josette Hinojosa, whose younger daughter was constructing sandcastle close by, stated she was participating to attempt to make sure continued entry to a seashore her household has loved for generations.
With SpaceX, Hinojosa stated, “Some days it’s closed, and some days you get turned away,”
Organizer Christopher Basaldú, a member of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas tribe, stated his ancestors have lengthy been within the space, the place the Rio Grande meets the Gulf.
“It’s not just important,” he stated, “it’s sacred.”
