In a significant development for southern Texas, the area surrounding Elon Musk's SpaceX launch site has been officially recognized as a city.
This newly incorporated city, aptly named Starbase, emerged following a successful vote by local residents over the weekend. The decision saw overwhelming support, with 212 out of 283 eligible voters, primarily SpaceX employees, casting their ballots in favor, while a mere six opposed, as reported by Cameron County.
According to Gateway Pundit, Musk expressed his enthusiasm for the outcome on his social media platform X, stating, "Starbase, Texas is now a real city!" The city encompasses 1.6 square miles (3.9 square kilometers) of land, which SpaceX began acquiring back in 2012.
Starbase will operate under the governance of a mayor and two commissioners, who will oversee planning, taxation, and other municipal responsibilities. Bobby Peden, a SpaceX vice president, has been appointed as the city's first mayor, running unopposed. Additionally, two other SpaceX-affiliated individuals have assumed the commissioner roles without contest.
Musk's personal connection to the area is evident, as he owns a residence there, complete with unique features such as "Memes Street" and a large bust of Musk himself, which was recently vandalized. The surrounding region is home to approximately 500 residents. While the concept of establishing a city had been discussed for years, it was a formal petition filed in December 2024 that ultimately led to the vote.
Starbase has been classified as a Type C municipality, a designation for cities with populations under 5,000. This classification permits city officials to levy a property tax of up to 1.5%, in accordance with the Texas Municipal League. Furthermore, a proposed bill in the Texas legislature could potentially grant Starbase the authority to close nearby roads and restrict access to Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica State Park during rocket launches, powers currently held by Cameron County officials.
Musk's strategic shift from California to Texas underscores his desire to escape what he perceives as California's burdensome regulations and unfriendly business environment. His companies, X and The Boring Company, have relocated their headquarters to Bastrop, near Austin, approximately five and a half hours north of Starbase. This move aligns with a broader trend of businesses seeking more favorable conditions in states that prioritize limited government intervention and economic freedom.
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