Well folks, let me tell you about the city of Boca Chica, also known as the neigh giant. It’s a majority-Hispanic area with a population of around 185,000 people, where about 26% of the population lives in poverty according to the U.S. census. But let’s not focus on the negative, shall we?
Enter Elon Musk and his SpaceX team, who have graciously created at least 1,900 jobs directly in the area, and thousands more if you count the numerous contractors and subcontractors required to run an ever-expanding launch site and related businesses. Isn’t that swell?
As Eddie Treviño, the county judge for Cameron County, which includes Boca Chica and Brownsville, says, “There’s no doubt that it’s been good for the economy. Brownsville and the county as a whole have been waiting for this type of a generational economic impact.” You go, Mr. Musk!
But hold up, not everyone is so thrilled about this new development. Some pesky residents are complaining that SpaceX’s presence is driving up home prices, making it even harder for people to buy homes. Plus, the rocket tests frequently spread fiery debris along neighborhoods, sand dunes, and tidal flats. Oh, the drama!
Rebekah Hinojosa, a resident of Brownsville, has expressed her discontent at public meetings, saying, “The politicians here cannot ignore the community. They need to listen to the concern of their constituents, not to a private space corporation or a billionaire.” Shots fired!
But wait, there’s more. Local environmental activists are also up in arms about the impact on the region’s wildlife, arguing that the piercing sounds of rockets roaring above their habitat have caused many shorebirds to stop nesting or flee the area altogether. Others complain that heavy machinery often damages the road to the beach. Yikes!
When asked for comment, representatives with SpaceX remained silent. How mysterious of them.
Mr. Treviño, however, says that officials want to work with SpaceX to minimize the damage to the environment. “We have the same concerns and we all want to make sure that the environment is not impacted,” he says. Can’t we all just get along?
To add fuel to the fire, Mr. Musk’s company has been buying up the homes of Boca Chica’s residents, leaving just a handful still living there. These unlucky folks are constantly subjected to disruptions to their daily lives, and have frequently been warned by SpaceX personnel before a rocket launch. But other times they’re startled by loud sirens and a warning to put on heavy headphones to block the earsplitting noise caused by some tests. Poor things.
Christian Escobedo, a resident of the area, appreciates the economic boost to his community, but is concerned about the constant activity. “It was a lot more quiet before they came here; there wasn’t a lot of construction going on,” he says. I mean, who needs peace and quiet, am I right?
But hey, some locals like Fred Tamez are thrilled to be part of a launch that is quite literally out of this world, saying, “Everybody’s talking about it, to be part of this historical event.” Who needs peace and quiet when you can have a front-row seat to an explosion?
Asked whether he was concerned about this latest test possibly resulting in another explosion like so many before it, he laughed nervously and replied, “This one has a lot of engines. So I hope not.” Fingers crossed, Mr. Tamez!
Well, there you have it folks – the highs and lows of life in Boca Chica, Texas. Stay tuned for more updates from the neigh giant.
Serious News: nytimes
