On Saturday, South Texans will head to the polls to determine whether a small stretch of land in the southernmost tip of Texas, home to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, will officially become the city of Starbase. This proposed municipality is named after the sprawling SpaceX complex located in the area. If the measure passes, the approximately 1.5-square-mile region, which includes parts of the unincorporated Boca Chica Village, will establish a city government, marking a significant shift in this once-quiet coastal neighborhood that has undergone rapid transformation since SpaceX began operations there in 2014.
According to KUT News, over three-fifths of the 283 eligible voters for this election are employed by SpaceX. Notably, out of the 247 residential lots in the vicinity, only 10 are not owned by SpaceX or its employees, highlighting the company's substantial influence on the local community. Since relocating to Texas, SpaceX has constructed a massive complex featuring a 480-foot rocket launch and catch tower, positioning Starbase as one of its four active launch sites. This facility also incorporates a production area and a test site, which SpaceX touts as “one of the world’s first commercial spaceports designed for orbital missions.”
The complex is primarily designed to facilitate Starship rocket test flights, aligning with Musk’s ambitious goal of creating a comprehensive space transportation system aimed at eventually colonizing Mars. In 2019, Musk reiterated his vision, stating that the development of a “rapidly reusable spacecraft” in Boca Chica would pave the way for establishing “a city on Mars.”
While the establishment of Starbase has generated over 3,000 jobs in the region, it has also raised environmental concerns among residents and advocacy groups. Local environmental organizations have voiced worries regarding the complex's impacts on the surrounding ecosystem, including issues related to water pollution and habitat destruction. For instance, the group SaveRGV filed a lawsuit against SpaceX in 2024, accusing the company of contaminating the waters at nearby Boca Chica Beach, an 8-mile stretch of pristine sand close to Brownsville. Although the lawsuit was dropped in February, it underscores the community’s apprehension regarding the company’s environmental practices.
Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined SpaceX nearly $150,000 in 2024 for breaching the Clean Water Act by releasing hundreds of thousands of gallons of wastewater into wetlands near the launch site without the necessary permit. Although SpaceX settled the matter with the EPA, they maintained their disagreement with the findings.
Christopher Basaldú, co-founder of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, expressed deep concerns about the potential environmental consequences of incorporating Starbase. He reminisced about visiting Boca Chica Beach as a child, describing it as “a gem or a treasure of a beautiful beach” and sacred land for Indigenous peoples. “I have no confidence that SpaceX will become a responsible neighbor just because they become officially a city,” he stated, fearing that the situation may only worsen.
In December, a group of current and former SpaceX employees submitted an incorporation petition, backed by over 70 residents, to Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. This petition led to the scheduling of an election to decide the future of Starbase. Kathryn Lueders, SpaceX’s general manager at the site, emphasized in a letter that the election was vital for expanding the Starbase community and enhancing the workforce essential for the rapid development of the Starship program.
Judge Treviño noted that if the election passes, it would mark the establishment of the newest town in Cameron County since Los Indios in 1995. He expressed anticipation for the election outcome, which could redefine the landscape of South Texas.
Alongside the Starbase referendum, the ballot features three candidates running unopposed: Robert Peden for mayor, and Jenna Petrzelka and Jordan Buss as city commissioners, all of whom are current or former SpaceX employees, according to the Texas Tribune. As of Tuesday, nearly 200 out of 283 eligible voters had already cast early ballots, reflecting the community's engagement in this pivotal decision.
