SpaceX is one step away from transforming its rocket headquarters into a true city.
AElection has been scheduled for May 3rd.
The SpaceX rocket factory and spaceport, known as Starship, are located in a small area of less than two square miles in South Texas. If this land were granted city status, it would be called Starbase. Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has expressed on numerous occasions his ambition to colonize Mars with a population of one million people. However, before establishing a city on the red planet, it seems a trial will be conducted on Earth, provided that the company’s plans materialize.
In December, SpaceX submitted a request to convert the coastal village where the factory and spaceport are located into an incorporated city. The proposal reached an important milestone this week when Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. decided that a local vote would take place to determine whether Starbase would achieve municipal status. This election is scheduled for May 3, and according to forecasts, its outcome is nearly certain. The majority of voters residing in the proposed area are SpaceX employees and their families, living in company-owned housing. Of the 247 lots included in the proposed city limits, only 10 are not owned by SpaceX.
Kathy Lueders, general manager of Starbase, explained that the company requires its own administration in order to expand. SpaceX has made multi-million dollar investments in infrastructure and has generated significant revenue for local businesses and government. Additionally, it already provides various community services through contracts.
Despite Lueders’ statements that municipal status would not affect existing environmental measures, some local residents are concerned about the impact this transformation could have. Environmental activists fear that unchecked growth could harm the ecosystem, while residents of Brownsville, Texas, worry about losing access to public beaches.
From SpaceX's perspective, the conversion to a city would facilitate the construction of necessary infrastructure to improve the quality of life for those who already live there and for future employees who will join the company. Moreover, there is speculation about whether this decision could help secure public funding or reduce bureaucracy concerning launch logistics.
However, the concerns of residents in surrounding areas seem to carry little weight in the process, as only those living within the proposed area will be able to vote. The upcoming vote promises to increase turnout in the general elections, highlighting the importance of providing a polling place in that part of the county.
If Starbase were to become a city, it would be governed by a mayor and two commissioners. The application includes three candidates for these positions, all seemingly unopposed. Although Musk will not head the city’s administration, a SpaceX security manager has submitted his candidacy for the mayor's position.
The reality is that establishing a city in Texas could be easier than doing so millions of miles away, given that the Rio Grande Valley region offers comfortable living conditions.
