Overview

• Residents of the SpaceX-operated area voted overwhelmingly to incorporate as the city of Starbase, with 98% of ballots in favor.
• The new municipality, located near Boca Chica, Texas, will be governed by SpaceX-affiliated officials, including Mayor Bobby Peden.
• Starbase now has authority over zoning, taxation, and building permits, reducing external bureaucratic oversight of SpaceX operations.
• Critics, including environmental groups and indigenous advocates, raise concerns about restricted access to public beaches and the area's ecological impact.
• Elon Musk celebrated the incorporation on his platform X, while opponents signal potential legal challenges to the city's establishment.