Starbase gains city status amid control and access fears
Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket launch area has been officially granted the status of the city of Starbase in Texas. Most of those eligible to vote in the referendum organized for this matter were employees of the billionaire, media reported.
According to the Associated Press, the newly established city named Starbase near the Mexican border covers an area of about 5 square kilometres. This strategic area serves as a launch base for SpaceX rockets under contracts with NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense. The landscape of this place is mainly dominated by simple access roads, trailers, and modest houses from the mid-20th century.
Musk proposed the creation of the city back in 2021. Despite his decreased popularity after joining the Trump administration and Tesla's deteriorating financial performance, SpaceX still enjoys local support due to the economic revival it brings to the region.
Critics express concern that the city status will expand Musk's control over the area, potentially allowing for the closure of a popular beach and provincial park for space operations.
The accompanying status change regulations aim to transfer the authority to close the beach from county officials to the new city's administration. SpaceX is simultaneously seeking a federal permit to increase the annual number of space rocket launches fivefold—from 5 to 25.
Beach to be closed
SpaceX representatives argued to lawmakers that granting the city the authority to close the beach will improve launch operations. Rocket launches, engine tests, and the general movement of specialized equipment on the base require the temporary closure of the local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and its beach.
"We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community," said the CEO of SpaceX, Kathryn Lueders. She explained that the company already manages local infrastructure, education, and medical care for residents.
Local opposition is organized by groups such as the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, an association focusing on environmental and social justice issues that has already conducted a series of protests.
Josette Hinojosa, a resident quoted by the AP, expressed concerns about access to the beach that her family has used for generations. Christopher Basaldú from the tribe known as the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation referred to the area as "sacred."
