Citizens of the South Texas region, long associated with SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket company, voted on Saturday to officially create a new city named Starbase, achieving one of Musk’s enduring aspirations.
When voting ended at 7 PM, 173 out of 177 votes were effectively in favor of incorporating the city of Starbase, according to Cameron County, which oversaw the election.
Election manager Remi Garza noted that there are 283 eligible voters, and while around 40 votes were counted, the early voting turnout exceeded expectations.
The locality, commonly referred to as Boca Chica by residents, spans approximately 1.5 square miles and extends to the Mexican border.
SpaceX broke ground in the area back in 2014, and it has since become the central hub and launch site for the company, with numerous employees residing there.
On his platform X, Musk has referred to the area as Starbase numerous times over the past four years.
“I literally live in a ~$20,000 home at Bocachica/Starbase that I rent from SpaceX,” Musk stated in a tweet from June 2021. “That’s pretty awesome.”
Residents surrounding the company’s offices and launch sites submitted a petition in December to formally establish Starbase, Texas, seeking official recognition.
The petition outlined a community comprising approximately 500 residents, including at least 219 adults and over 100 children. Most of the residents are tenants and work at SpaceX, according to the petition.
Local governments have the authority to create their own police and fire departments and establish ordinances, though they are not mandated to do so.
“Cities are not legally required to do much,” remarked Austin attorney Alain Bojörquez, who assists Texans in the municipal incorporation process.
One of the key issues is road maintenance, which will no longer fall under county jurisdiction. However, as a municipality, Starbase will be eligible for state and federal grants, enjoy certain legal protections, and potentially have the authority to condemn property, Bojorquez noted.
David Goodman Contributions reported.
Source: www.nytimes.com
