SpaceX launch site Rounds Up Approval for Urban Development, According to Texas Voters.
In a twisted turn of events, Elon Musk's dream of building a city, tailored to his space-faring empire, has become a reality. On a rainy Saturday in South Texas, a handful of Elon-enthusiasts took to the voting booths, sealing the fate of the area surrounding SpaceX's rocket testing facility.
With a landslide victory of 212 votes for and without a single protest vote, the area has officially been incorporated as the City of Starbase. Election officials swiftly confirmed the results, catching even the man of the hour, Elon Musk, off guard. He celebrated the triumph with a simple tweet, "S T A R B A S E." However, the celebrations at the soon-to-be city were far from grandiose. There were no fireworks, no street parties—just a few folks huddled at the Astropub, a local watering hole for the SpaceX staff, deep into the night.
Not everyone in the vicinity of the new city was overjoyed with the news. The 283 citizens eligible to vote were primarily SpaceX employees or those who had already expressed their support. The three newly-elected officials boasted previous connections to the space-tech giant. Musk himself remained an enigma, as it's unclear if he cast his ballot.
The election's aftermath set off a whirlwind of speculation. As the City of Starbase begins to take shape, Musk may try to exert more control over the nearby public beach. On the previous day, a group of activists took a stand against space-grabbers on the beach, waving protest signs and lugging an Elon Musk pinata around.
"These hills here are sacred to us," Juan Mancias, chair of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, declared to The Texas Newsroom. "They don't know the history of the land, and they're trying to erase that."
Creating company towns isn't a novel idea in the grand scheme of things, but Musk might just be the first modern entrepreneur to incorporate a town primarily for his employees. And, this may not be the end of his ambitions. Rumors swirl that he has his sights set on founding another city at his corporate compound outside Austin.
Musk and SpaceX have yet to comment on the election. The polling station, nestled on the company's campus, played host to atmosphere-cloaked voters wrapped in SpaceX and Starbase merchandise, but most remained tight-lipped on the matter. The lone voice from the voting center, a man who stressed he wasn't authorized to speak, insisted, "I think it's a net benefit for everyone, but not a lot of people will understand why."
The once-quiet beach village, now mostly owned by SpaceX, seemed an eerie contrast to the new city's futuristic aspirations. One laid-back couple, who don't work for SpaceX, cast their dissenting votes, with the woman lamenting, "I voted no. I'm sure we're the only ones out here who did."
Musk's dream of having his very own metropolis is taking flight, but the journey won't be without turbulence. With increased autonomy, the City of Starbase could see rapid urbanization, economic growth, and significant advancements in space technology. However, possible pitfalls include environmental degradation, conflicts of interest between the public and private sectors, and community integration challenges.
Only time will tell if the City of Starbase reaps the benefits of becoming a真の都市, or if it spirals into a disastrous epicenter of restricted freedom, environmental destruction, and runaway ambition. Regardless of the outcome, one thing remains certain—Elon Musk continues to boldly go where no billionaire has ever gone before.
- The election results were undeniably in favor of the city's incorporation, with a landslide victory of 212 votes for the City of Starbase.
- Instead of grand celebrations, a group of SpaceX enthusiasts huddled at the Astropub, a local watering hole, to discuss the election.
- The new city's officials have previous connections to SpaceX, and the general news is abuzz with speculation about Musk exerting more control over the nearby public beach.
- The Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas has expressed concerns about the city's expansion, stating that the newcomers don't understand the historical significance of the land.
- Musk may be planning to establish another city at his corporate compound outside Austin, following the success of the City of Starbase.
- The lone voice from the voting center acknowledged potential benefits for everyone but admitted that not many people would understand why.
- The once-quiet beach village, now mostly owned by SpaceX, presents a stark contrast to the City of Starbase's futuristic aspirations, raising concerns about environmental degradation and community integration.
