Smash that townsend button! 🍻
SpaceX's headquarters, known as Starbase, will officially be recognized as a city within the state of Texas.
Get a load of this! Elon Musk's SpaceX playground, located in the southeastern corner of Texas, is about to become an official city. Yep, you heard it right - Starbase is taking center stage!
Residents in the area, mostly consisting of SpaceX employees, cast their votes on Saturday to transform a chunk of land into this new municipality, according to BBC News. The verdict? An overwhelming yes - 212 to be precise, with a measly 6 nays.
So, what does that mean for the neighborhood? Musk himself took to the gram, exclaiming, "Starbase, Texas is now a real city!"
However, not everyone in the vicinity is stoked about this development. Neighboring residents have expressed their concerns about SpaceX's impact on the local environment. Last year, SpaceX faced a pretty hefty fine of $148,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for spilling wastewater. Oopsie!
But what’s a little water spillage among friends, right? The drive to establish a new city has been in the works for years, and this recent vote marked the final step. The city council will be composed of a mayor and two commissioners who will handle planning, taxation, and local issues. Guess who the first mayor will be? None other than Bobby Peden, SpaceX’s vice president of Texas' test and launch operations!
Starbase covers approximately 1.6 square miles, which was pretty vacant before SpaceX started snatching up land back in 2012. This new city will fall under the 'Type C' category, meaning local officials can tax property up to 1.5%. Although, we're not exactly sure how much of that hot cash Elon's gonna be handing over.
So, what about the neighbors and their complaints? Well, there's a bill currently making its way through the Texas legislature that could enable Starbase officials to control access to nearby Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica State Park during launches. Sounds like county officials ain’t too pleased about that!
As it stands, the county manages closures around SpaceX launches, which affects the surrounding communities of Brownsville and South Padre Island.
If all goes to plan, watch out for Memes Street on your next road trip to Starbase!
Enrichment:
SpaceX's operations in Texas have sparked environmental concerns. These include water pollution, wildlife disruption, coastal access and ecosystem strain, and broader environmental risks. Critics argue that SpaceX prioritizes rapid expansion over ecological preservation. Protests from environmental advocates, such as Bekah Hinojosa's South Texas Environmental Justice Network, highlight these issues, including the potential for wildfires from rocket debris and seismic impacts from frequent launches. These concerns raise fears of weakened regulatory oversight under the corporate-run governance model compared to standard municipal frameworks.
- The Starbase location, formerly known as a SpaceX facility, is set to become an official city, as agreed by the majority of residents who voted in Saturday's ballot.
- Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, publicized the new status of Starbase via his social media, stating, "Starbase, Texas is now a real city!"
- Concerns have been raised by some neighboring residents over SpaceX's potential impact on the local environment, with the company facing a substantial fine last year for spilling wastewater.
- The city council of Starbase will consist of a mayor and two commissioners who will take care of planning, taxation, and local issues, with SpaceX's Vice President of Texas' test and launch operations, Bobby Peden, set to be the first mayor.
- SpaceX grabbed land for its operations in the area starting in 2012, converting approximately 1.6 square miles of previously vacant space into this new city.
- The Texas legislature is currently considering a bill that could give Starbase officials the power to restrict public access to nearby Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica State Park during launches, potentially causing friction with county officials and surrounding communities like Brownsville and South Padre Island.
