Elon Musk's Starbase vision: Texas city vote looms
Elon Musk may see his grand vision come to fruition. On Saturday, residents and employees of SpaceX will vote on whether the land they occupy in Texas will officially become a city known as Starbase, reports the Associated Press.
The American press agency notes that "Approval of the new city is all but certain." Most of the 283 eligible voters are SpaceX employees or individuals associated with the company, living on the site and launch location of the rocket designed to take astronauts to Mars. Elon Musk himself owns a house on Memes Street.
The AP adds that "election success would be a personal victory for Musk." This would boost his morale after his popularity declined due to his involvement with Donald Trump's administration's politics.
Elon Musk's city
"SpaceX has drawn widespread support from local officials for its jobs and investment in the area. But the creation of an official company town has also prompted concerns about expanding the tech tycoon’s personal control over the area, with potential authority to close a popular beach and state park for launches," it reads.
At the same time, SpaceX has requested federal authorities' permission to increase the number of rocket launches from 5 to 25 annually. The Starbase facility is located near the Mexican border in southern Texas, spanning about 5 square kilometres. SpaceX emphasized last year that it manages roads and provides education and medical care. According to company representatives, granting them the authority to close the beach would enhance their operations. This is key due to contracts with the Department of National Defence and NASA.
"Launching SpaceX rockets and engine tests, and even moving some equipment around the launch base, require closing the local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach," reports AP.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. assesses that the county has worked well with SpaceX and there is no need for changes.
Attempt at colonization
Bekah Hinojosa, a representative of the Rio Grande Valley community, explains that "They're claiming they're bringing economic incentives, but the rent is going up, the roads are crumbling." "It is getting harder to live here. All this seems to benefit is fancy restaurants with SpaceX clientele," she assesses.
"To activists like Hinojosa, the bills are just the first step in a series of power grabs that will likely define the era of Starbase, Texas, which she views as part of the slow colonization of her hometown by the tech oligarchy," reads Politico.
"It’s the richest man on the planet using us as a testing ground. Elon Musk is on his way to colonizing Mars," Hinojosa summarises.
"First, he’s trying to colonize this community."
