Lawmakers may let Starbase decide when to close beaches, roads

STARBASE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — With the next SpaceX launch scheduled for Tuesday, Boca Chica Beach will again be closed.

That's a public safety decision that Cameron County officials have traditionally been in charge of making. But changes to that process could be on the way.

State lawmakers had proposed that the newly incorporated Starbase would have the authority to close the beach and nearby roadways when the city deemed it necessary.

In March, Senate Bill 2188 was filed for the new legislative session in Austin, authored by State Senator Adam Hinojosa.

Part of that bill would give Starbase the ability to make that call, contingent on the outcome of the election, to create the city. State Representative Janie Lopez was also a sponsor of the bill.

SB2188 specified that the beach couldn't be closed, "any of the following days without the approval of the land office: the Saturday or Sunday preceding Memorial Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, or a Saturday or Sunday that is after Memorial Day but before Labor Day."

Hinojosa also attached an amendment to House Bill 1240, which states, "Notwithstanding any other law," a Type C municipality like Starbase had the authority to close roads and beaches.

It's unclear whether or not that amendment would supersede the other law and impose no restrictions on when Starbase could close the areas.

Suquiery Santillana was born and raised in Brownsville and has been coming to Boca Chica Beach her whole life.

“Summer kicks off and this is where we're at on Sundays," Santillana said.

She lives only a few miles from the beach and calls it her "backyard."

Santillana said she recognizes SpaceX has brought jobs and increased economic activity to the area, but says she's concerned about an increase in beach closures.

She said the closures are often inconsistent, and people may not even know it's closed before they arrive.

“People come out here to celebrate holidays, celebrate birthdays. Just come out and relax, and spend the day at the beach. Any day of the week, not just on a holiday or on the weekend,” Santillana said.

Santillana added that she believes Starbase should have shared any decisions about closures with the community.

“They should respect that before it was Starbase, this was Brownsville, this was Cameron County. This was for South Texas. This is our beach. Not only Starbase’s beach,” she said.

SB 2188 was sent back to the Natural Resources Committee after midnight Saturday. Hinojosa's amendment to HB1240 was adopted Friday and passed the Senate during Saturday's session.

We reached out to Senator Hinojosa's office for clarification about the amendment and what effect, if any, it would have on SB2188.

At the time this article was published, we had not heard back.