Elon Musk's Starbase: A new frontier or a tech takeover?
Elon Musk may soon realise his great dream. On Saturday, the residents and employees of SpaceX will decide whether the land they inhabit in Texas will officially become a city known as Starbase, according to the Associated Press.
The American press agency emphasises that the approval of the new city is almost certain. Most of the 283 eligible voters are SpaceX employees or people associated with the company, living on the site and launch location of the rocket intended to take astronauts to Mars. Elon Musk himself owns a house on Memes Street.
According to the AP agency, an electoral success would represent a personal triumph for Musk, potentially restoring his confidence following a drop in popularity linked to his political engagement during Donald Trump’s administration.
Elon Musk's city
According to it, SpaceX has gained strong backing from local authorities, largely because of the employment opportunities and investments it brings to the region. However, the idea of establishing an official company town has sparked concerns about increasing the tech mogul’s personal influence over the area, including the possibility of securing permission to restrict access to a well-known beach and state park during rocket launches.
At the same time, SpaceX has asked federal authorities for 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. It spans about 5 square kilometres. SpaceX emphasised last year that it manages roads and provides education and medical care. According to company representatives, being granted the authority to close the beach would enhance their operations. This is key due to contracts with the Department of Defense and NASA.
According to the AP, launching SpaceX rockets, performing engine tests, and even transporting equipment at the launch site all necessitate temporary closures of the local highway, as well as restricted access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino, Jr. however, assesses that the county has worked well with SpaceX and there is no need for changes.
Attempt at colonisation
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."
