By Alejandra Martinez
Texas Tribune
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously Monday to pursue an exchange that would give 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park in Cameron County to Elon Musk’s SpaceX spacecraft company.
The state park land would be swapped for 477 acres adjacent to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, an area the agency has been interested in for many years because it’s “one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America” and provides habitat for endangered species and migratory birds, the agency said.
The vote grants Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff the authority to begin negotiations with SpaceX for the land swap, including conducting environmental assessments that could take up to 18 months.
At a press conference after the meeting, several South Texas community and environmental groups held signs reading “protect Boca Chica Beach” and said they are disappointed with the agency’s decision.
Boca Chica, a 1,354-acre park located at Texas’ southernmost point along the Gulf Coast, about 20 miles east of Brownsville, has long been a favorite swimming and fishing destination for the majority Hispanic community in the Rio Grande Valley.
At Monday’s TPWD meeting in Austin — the last opportunity for people to give feedback on the land swap — almost all chairs were occupied and people stood in the back. During nearly four hours of public testimony, most speakers opposed the exchange, including some who drove more than 300 miles to Austin from Brownsville in three minvans.
“Boca Chica Beach is the first place that my little brother went to a beach. I went there the day my sister was born and most recently I spread my uncle’s ashes there. Please do not give SpaceX an inch because they will take a mile,” said Emma Guevara, who grew up in Brownsville and is now a member of South Texas Environmental Justice Network and a field organizer in Brownsville for the Sierra Club.
Stephanie Garcia, a TPWD spokesperson said in an email last week the exchange would not affect public beach access through the park or along State Highway 4. Garcia said the 477 acres the state would receive is located along the Lower Laguna Madre — the shallow bay between the coast and South Padre Island — and would increase public water access.
This was the second time the agency scheduled a vote on the Boca Chica land swap — the first was delayed in late January after public backlash by conservationists and some South Texas residents who said the deal was being rushed and TPWD violated its open meetings code by not providing enough notice to Spanish speakers about the proposal.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., who originally opposed the land swap because TPWD did not involve him in the decision making, said he now supports it for conservation reasons.
“This land (the state would receive) is a treasure trove of biodiversity,” Treviño said at the meeting. “Let us embrace this opportunity to safeguard our natural heritage, foster community engagement and create enduring legacies for generations to come.”
Environmental groups and community members are not convinced, pointing out that SpaceX has restricted public access to the beach before.
In 2021, Treviño ordered the beach to close for about 500 hours over 100 separate days for SpaceX rocket operations. Rio Grande Valley community, Indigenous and environmental groups sued county and state officials in 2021 for allowing SpaceX to restrict and close public access to Boca Chica Beach, claiming that beach access is protected by the state law. The lawsuit is still ongoing.
At Monday’s meeting Kathryn Lueders, a general manager for SpaceX’s launch site Starbase, said she believes both SpaceX and the state are winners in a land exchange.
"Those launches are exciting the young minds that are watching them … children become what they see," Lueders said as people booed behind her. "Today it is not an aspiration to be a rocket scientist and work in the Rio Grande Valley. It is a reality. And one day we hope those kids that are following the launches are seeing themselves and a future spacecraft launching."
Texas Tribune
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously Monday to pursue an exchange that would give 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park in Cameron County to Elon Musk’s SpaceX spacecraft company.
The state park land would be swapped for 477 acres adjacent to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, an area the agency has been interested in for many years because it’s “one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America” and provides habitat for endangered species and migratory birds, the agency said.
The vote grants Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff the authority to begin negotiations with SpaceX for the land swap, including conducting environmental assessments that could take up to 18 months.
At a press conference after the meeting, several South Texas community and environmental groups held signs reading “protect Boca Chica Beach” and said they are disappointed with the agency’s decision.
Boca Chica, a 1,354-acre park located at Texas’ southernmost point along the Gulf Coast, about 20 miles east of Brownsville, has long been a favorite swimming and fishing destination for the majority Hispanic community in the Rio Grande Valley.
At Monday’s TPWD meeting in Austin — the last opportunity for people to give feedback on the land swap — almost all chairs were occupied and people stood in the back. During nearly four hours of public testimony, most speakers opposed the exchange, including some who drove more than 300 miles to Austin from Brownsville in three minvans.
“Boca Chica Beach is the first place that my little brother went to a beach. I went there the day my sister was born and most recently I spread my uncle’s ashes there. Please do not give SpaceX an inch because they will take a mile,” said Emma Guevara, who grew up in Brownsville and is now a member of South Texas Environmental Justice Network and a field organizer in Brownsville for the Sierra Club.
Stephanie Garcia, a TPWD spokesperson said in an email last week the exchange would not affect public beach access through the park or along State Highway 4. Garcia said the 477 acres the state would receive is located along the Lower Laguna Madre — the shallow bay between the coast and South Padre Island — and would increase public water access.
This was the second time the agency scheduled a vote on the Boca Chica land swap — the first was delayed in late January after public backlash by conservationists and some South Texas residents who said the deal was being rushed and TPWD violated its open meetings code by not providing enough notice to Spanish speakers about the proposal.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., who originally opposed the land swap because TPWD did not involve him in the decision making, said he now supports it for conservation reasons.
“This land (the state would receive) is a treasure trove of biodiversity,” Treviño said at the meeting. “Let us embrace this opportunity to safeguard our natural heritage, foster community engagement and create enduring legacies for generations to come.”
Environmental groups and community members are not convinced, pointing out that SpaceX has restricted public access to the beach before.
In 2021, Treviño ordered the beach to close for about 500 hours over 100 separate days for SpaceX rocket operations. Rio Grande Valley community, Indigenous and environmental groups sued county and state officials in 2021 for allowing SpaceX to restrict and close public access to Boca Chica Beach, claiming that beach access is protected by the state law. The lawsuit is still ongoing.
At Monday’s meeting Kathryn Lueders, a general manager for SpaceX’s launch site Starbase, said she believes both SpaceX and the state are winners in a land exchange.
"Those launches are exciting the young minds that are watching them … children become what they see," Lueders said as people booed behind her. "Today it is not an aspiration to be a rocket scientist and work in the Rio Grande Valley. It is a reality. And one day we hope those kids that are following the launches are seeing themselves and a future spacecraft launching."
To read thre rest of the story, click on link: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-spacex-boca-chica-park-land-swap/
16 comments:
This deal was struck a long time ago. Everything else was just a show.
This deal only benefited billionaire Elon Musk, and the hell with the public. Why the rush for the Tex. Parks and Wildlife Commission to hold the land swap commission meeting? Wasn't former George P Bush the general land office who approved H. B.2623 in 2013? The bill that gave state county judges official, such as former Gov. Rick Perry, Carlos Casco at the time or Tony Martinez and now Eddie Trevino holding the Paton, to giving permission to close the PUBLIC Boca Chica Beach for up to 12 rockets launches a year. The proposal on the bill specifically PROHIBITS beach closures during Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends without approval from GENERAL LAND OFFICE, which at the time was George P. Bush, the legislation, (meaning the law) states. Keep in mind that former and now dead Rene Oliveria was the author of this legislation. Both Eddie Lucio's signed for the HB 2623. The question that we the public need to know is when did Elon Musk purchase the Boca Chica and why was he building on PRIVATE land because he just on Monday Mar. 4, 2024 got the swap deal? Keep in mind the Federal Aviation Dept. is questioning many of Elon Musk's sneak moves. Eddie Trevino must be shitting bricks just about now. Trevino was against the swap and now he is for the swap. That in itself says a lot. This is my opinion.
Biblical passage - Luke 6:20-21 (NIV)
“Looking at his disciples, he said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.’”
Notice - it did not say "Blessed are the billionaires."! Musk, the great free enterprise champion, has gotten rich off government contracts and handouts. Corporate socialism anyone? Notice - it is not he who is the owner of these 477 acres near Laguna Heights - nowhere does it state the entity which owns this land. My guess it is one government agency transferring to another so Musk can get for free another 47 acres on both sides of highway 4, effectively blocking public access to Boca Chica beach at his whim.
Yet are public officials from both parties, from state level on down to local, worship him as the Second Coming. Next up polluting of South Bay and the Gulf with his agua negra (wastewater). That will make its way to La Laguna Madre contaminating fish and shellfish. I could go on and on, but who is going to listen?
Money talks, shit walks, where were our elected officials, especially Trevino, the Tanaska rat! Do deal all the time. People are never heard in these board hearing.
Excuse my language but —— FUCK ALL THESE MOTHERFUCKERS!!! As my wise friend said: Eddie Trevino “needed to be involved “ of course you needed to be involved, you needed your turn at the cookie jar. And to all the elected officials: dont ever use the words: endangered species ,wildlife, ecosystems, environment, protected land etc in your vocabularies cause it’s obvious you guys could give a shit. And it also confirms the fact that you guys don’t give a fuck about your constituents and their opinions. So I guess the next item to be voted on will be when to change the moniker of the RGV to include The RGV an Elon Musk territory. And for the ones that dont speak the english : Chinguen a su madre!!
Now that Elon Musk and his $$$ got his way, demand that he build an access rd to the beach forking off the existing highway. Let this rd go around his facilities, so that the natives-and poor folk have a free access to the beach. This way “our” access is open all the time( except during launches) and he can do all his daily bullshit without interference from the local “indians”. Im sure money wont be an issue and the wildlife/ecosystem is already fucked , so I don’t think a small stretch of asphalt will matter. Just ask the TPWD , I’m sure they’ll vote unanimously once their master Elon asks them.
Oh Elon!! Our elected officials have gifted you so many privileges and got their pockets fuller at our expense. You and Bezos are so much trying to outdo each other by trying to reach Mars. Being that you both are very intelligent , can you try and work together by finding a way to desalinate water? Have you heard that we are in a drought and running out of drinking water and our local PUB is asking the community to help. Our local Sugar Mill has closed, which was here for about 50 years, due to lack of water and you are building up STARBASE CITY? We hear that you want to dump your waste water in our gulf and have asked for permission. Can you try and help humanity here on earth before you get to Mars? Please don't disrespect our local common folks , because our elected politicians , who have bent the knee for you, sure have. Is everything I have said partially true or is it "Hearsay"?
Signed a Very Concerned Taxpaying Citizen and SHAME on our elected leaders who let this get out of control.
OK get in line billionaires the elected officals in cameron county are giving away land that belongs to the poor, but for a mochis you get your favorite place AND FOR FREEEEEEEEEEE....
LET'S RE-ELECT ALL THOSE WHO APPROVED GIVING AWAY OUR LANDS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN...
THE HIGHWAY GOING TO AREA WILL BE TORN DOWN AND THE ONLY WAY TO THAT AREA WILL BY AIRPLANE
CHINGENSE RAZA NO PLANE NO GO
IT'S COMING SOOOOOOOON VERY SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNN
I guess democratic voters got taken again. This time by Elon Musk a Republican. The pie just keeps getting sweeter!
Ten years from now, residents of Brownsville will ask "Who decided to to the swap?" "Who messed up nature?"
NOW I HAVE TO WORK OVER-TIME TO PAY FOR THE INCREASES THAT WILL BE COMING SOON. MORE TAXES AND NO IMPROVEMENTS NO WHERE HERE AND MORE LAND TO GIVE AWAY TO BILLIONAIRES, "YOUR LAND".. MORE BIKE TRAILS, MORE MURALS ON DEPAPIDATED BUILDINGS, HEB AND WALMART ARE ALSO GETTIN ON-LINE TO INCREASE TODO. GARCIAS IDIOTAS POR VOTAR LOS MISMOS RATAS NADA NADA Y NADA CAMBIO!
I went to vote yesterday and one of the election workers didn't know a word of English. If I didn't know Spanish, would I have been hired?
If we only had a president with some cojones who would go to Mexico and demand the release of the water which pertains to us. But instead the people voted for a weak corrupt president who is only interested in his own personal gains. This country has taken in and is supporting millions of illegal Mexicans and they won’t even give us our water. Boy is this country screwed up!
March 6, 2024 at 11:29 AM
They know English but they pretend they do not know to find out who you are.
Think about all the American people here in Brownsville, they pretend they do not know Spanish.
Destroying Earth to get to Mars
most here do not know english nor spanish they spik texmex which is part ingis and part espinish. das why nobody knows notsin.
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