SpaceX bill to control beach closures left pending in subcommittee

BOCA CHICA, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Texas Representative Janie Lopez stood before the Committee on State Affairs on Monday and presented her bill giving SpaceX control of Boca Chica beach closures.

House Bill 4661, introduced by Representative Janie Lopez, would transfer the authority to close Boca Chica Beach and State Highway 4 from Cameron County to Starbase if it became its own municipality, pending an election on May 3rd.

The bill is currently going through the legislature and was left pending in the subcommittee on Monday.

Boca Chica beach is open to the public, but it closes during SpaceX launches, which could happen much more often.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. has expressed his opposition of the bill and wrote a letter to the Committee on State Affairs explaining why.

"We believe this bill does not serve the public interest and has received an overwhelmingly negative response from our local community," Judge Trevino wrote in his letter.

Locals have also been vocal about wanting Boca Chica Beach to remain public and not controlled by SpaceX.

"That's too much power for one corporation," Weslaco Resident Victoria Gonzales said. "Corporations are becoming too powerful. They need to take into consideration the people."

Matt Holm is visiting Starbase from Austin. He said he visits often and always loves going to Boca Chica Beach when he's here, but he thinks giving SpaceX the authority to close the beach is for the greater good.

"I believe national security overrides access to a public beach," he said. "There are plenty of beaches around but only one SpaceX, and I think security is a key issue."

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