McALLEN — The Texas Senate has agreed to give officials of the new city Starbase, home to Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket testing facility, the authority to close off access to a popular South Texas beach for short periods of time during launches.
The move to allow Starbase to close Boca Chica Beach has outraged local organizers who have lobbied to protect the area. Environmental and indigenous groups worry that allowing Starbase to decide when to close the beach would effectively close off a beloved and sacred beach to the public.
