Elon Musk's 'Starbase' poised to become official Texas city
Elon Musk may soon see his dream come true. On Saturday, residents and employees of SpaceX will decide whether the land they occupy in Texas will officially become a city named Starbase, reports the Associated Press.
The American press agency highlights that "approval of the new city is all but certain" A majority of the 283 eligible voters are SpaceX employees or individuals linked to the company, residing at the site and launch location for the rocket intended to take astronauts to Mars. Elon Musk himself owns a house on Memes Street.
The AP agency notes that "election success would be a personal victory for Musk." It would boost his morale after a decline in popularity due to his involvement in the politics of Donald Trump's administration.
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," the report states.
Meanwhile, SpaceX has requested federal 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, covering about 2 square miles. SpaceX emphasized 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 crucial due to contracts with the Department of Defense and NASA.
"Launching SpaceX rockets, conducting 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.
However, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino, Jr. believes that the county has worked well with SpaceX and sees 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," reports 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."
