{"id":2430612,"date":"2025-05-04T00:08:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-04T04:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/musk-gets-his-texas-wish-spacex-launch-site-is-approved-as-the-new-city-of-starbase-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-05-04T00:11:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-04T04:11:53","slug":"musk-gets-his-texas-wish-spacex-launch-site-is-approved-as-the-new-city-of-starbase-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/musk-gets-his-texas-wish-spacex-launch-site-is-approved-as-the-new-city-of-starbase-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Musk gets his Texas wish. SpaceX launch site is approved as the new city of Starbase &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">38<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmusk-gets-his-texas-wish-spacex-launch-site-is-approved-as-the-new-city-of-starbase-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2430612&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Elon Musk&#8217;s SpaceX rocket company has officially established a new city named starbase in South Texas, following a decisive vote that passed with 212 votes in favor and only 6 against.Most of the voters are believed to be SpaceX employees. Musk celebrated this achievement, indicating that it marks a step toward creating a &#8220;real city&#8221; as Starbase will serve as the facility and launch site for significant SpaceX missions, including planned lunar and Martian explorations.<\/p>\n<p>Even though Musk&#8217;s proposal for Starbase had been anticipated as 2021, it has faced criticism. Some residents worry that the establishment of a company town may increase Musk&#8217;s control over the area, affecting public access to local beaches and parks. Efforts are underway to transition authority from local county governance to the new city&#8217;s officials, which has sparked protests from local environmental groups and residents concerned about the potential loss of public leisure spaces.<\/p>\n<p>The small city, only about 1.5 square miles, is primarily composed of roads and modest housing but aims to develop into a managed community that meets the livability needs of SpaceX employees. As SpaceX seeks to considerably increase its launch operations, the implications of this new city for local infrastructure and community dynamics continue to spark debate among stakeholders.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Musk gets his Texas wish. SpaceX launch site is approved as the new city of Starbase<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2111380\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>McALLEN, Texas (AP) &mdash;<\/strong> The South Texas home of <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Elon Musk<\/a>&rsquo;s SpaceX rocket company is now an official city with a galactic name: Starbase.<\/p>\n<p>A vote Saturday to organize Starbase as a city was approved by a lopsided margin among the small group of voters who live there and are mostly Musk&rsquo;s employees at SpaceX. With all the votes in, the tally was 212 in favor to 6 against, according to results published online by the Cameron County Elections Department.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3400318\/singapore-long-ruling-party-wins-landslide-election-boost-new-prime-minister\/\">Singapore&#8217;s long-ruling party wins another landslide in election boost for new prime minister<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3400305\/small-plane-crashes-southern-california-killing-one\/\">Small plane crashes into Simi Valley neighborhood in Southern California, killing one person<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3400295\/ukraine-russia-issue-threats-three-day-ceasefire-proposal-crumbles\/\">Ukraine, Russia issue threats as three-day ceasefire proposal crumbles<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Musk celebrated in a post on X, saying it is &ldquo;now a real city!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Starbase is the facility and launch site for the SpaceX rocket program that is under contract with the Department of Defense and NASA that hopes to send astronauts back to the moon and someday to Mars.<\/p>\n<p>Musk first floated the idea of Starbase in 2021 and approval of the new city was all but certain. Of the 283 eligible voters in the area, most are believed to be Starbase workers.<\/p>\n<p>The election victory was personal for Musk. The billionaire&rsquo;s&nbsp;popularity has diminished&nbsp;since he became the&nbsp;chain-saw-wielding&nbsp;public face of&nbsp;President <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a>&rsquo;s&nbsp;federal job and&nbsp;spending cuts, and profits at his <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tesla\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Tesla<\/a> car company have&nbsp;plummeted.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX has generally drawn widespread support from local officials for its <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">jobs<\/a> and investment in the area.<\/p>\n<p>But the creation of a company town has also drawn critics who worry it will expand Musk&rsquo;s personal control over the area, with potential authority to close a popular beach and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-state-assembly-moves-to-rename-donald-j-trump-state-park\/\" title=\"New York State Assembly Moves To Rename Donald J. Trump State Park\">state park<\/a> for launches.<\/p>\n<p>Companion efforts to the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">city vote include bills<\/a> in the state legislature to shift that authority from the county to the new town&rsquo;s mayor and city council.<\/p>\n<p>All these measures come as SpaceX is asking federal authorities for permission to increase the number of South <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Texas<\/a> launches from five to 25 a year.<\/p>\n<p>The city at the southern tip of Texas near the <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mexico\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Mexico<\/a> border is only about 1.5 square miles, crisscrossed by a few roads and dappled with airstream trailers and modest midcentury homes.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX officials have said little about exactly why they want a company town and did not respond to emailed requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community,&rdquo; Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders wrote to local officials in 2024 with the request to get the city issue on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>The letter said the company already manages roads and utilities, as well as &ldquo;the provisions of schooling and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-people-carving-up-trans-kids-have-blood-on-their-hands\/\" title=\"The People Carving Up &#039;Trans&#039; Kids Have &#039;Blood On Their Hands&#039;\">medical care&#038;rdquo<\/a>; for those living on the property.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX officials have told lawmakers that granting the city authority to close the beach would streamline launch operations. SpaceX rocket launches and engine tests, and even just moving certain equipment around the launch base, require the closure of a local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach.<\/p>\n<p>Critics say beach closure authority should stay with the county government, which represents a broader population that uses the beach and park. Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. has said the county has worked well with SpaceX and there is no need for change.<\/p>\n<p>Another proposed bill would make it a Class B misdemeanor with up to 180 days in jail if someone doesn&rsquo;t comply with an order to evacuate the beach.<\/p>\n<p>The South Texas Environmental Justice Network, which has organized protests against the city vote and the beach access issue, held another demonstration Saturday that attracted dozens of people.<\/p>\n<p>Josette Hinojosa, whose young daughter was building a sandcastle nearby, said she was taking part to try to ensure continued access to a beach her family has enjoyed for generations.<\/p>\n<p>With SpaceX, Hinojosa said, &ldquo;Some days it&rsquo;s closed, and some days you get turned away.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Organizer Christopher Basaldu, a member of the Carrizo\/Comecrudo Nation of Texas tribe, said his ancestors have long been in the area, where the Rio Grande meets the Gulf.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just important,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s sacred.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2111380\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2111380\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Musk&#8217;s wish granted: SpaceX launch site becomes Starbase city<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":2430613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/musk-starbase-city-texas-approved.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[54561,4250,4844,53934,3694],"class_list":["post-2430612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-launch-site","tag-musk","tag-spacex","tag-starbase","tag-texas"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/musk-starbase-city-texas-approved.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2430612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2430612"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2430612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2430616,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2430612\/revisions\/2430616"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2430613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2430612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2430612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2430612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}