SpaceX donates $4.4 million to upgrade beach access at Boca Chica
Even as leftist politicians and anti-Musk haters rage incoherently against SpaceX’s growing facility at Boca Chica, the company this week donated $4.4 million to upgrade the beach access and facilities at South Padre Island, near Starbase at Boca Chica.
Beachgoers visiting South Padre Island will soon be able to enjoy a surfside park with a smorgasbord of family-friendly amenities paid for by a $4.4 million contribution from Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Previously, MySA reported that the project was expected to cost $4.5 million, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records.
Cameron County Beach Access #3, a currently undeveloped pedestrian beach access located just outside the South Padre Island city limits, will soon begin construction on the latest phase of a multimillion-dollar improvement project that will transform it into a destination beach access. To that end, Cameron County leaders celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, August 11, at the access, located at 28495 State Park Road 100-North, on South Padre Island.
In other words, SpaceX is paying almost the entire bill for this work. It might now have the power to close these beaches when necessary, but it is also acting like a good citizen, improving those beaches for everyone when they are open.
It is expected this work will be completed by next year.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Even as leftist politicians and anti-Musk haters rage incoherently against SpaceX’s growing facility at Boca Chica, the company this week donated $4.4 million to upgrade the beach access and facilities at South Padre Island, near Starbase at Boca Chica.
Beachgoers visiting South Padre Island will soon be able to enjoy a surfside park with a smorgasbord of family-friendly amenities paid for by a $4.4 million contribution from Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Previously, MySA reported that the project was expected to cost $4.5 million, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records.
Cameron County Beach Access #3, a currently undeveloped pedestrian beach access located just outside the South Padre Island city limits, will soon begin construction on the latest phase of a multimillion-dollar improvement project that will transform it into a destination beach access. To that end, Cameron County leaders celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, August 11, at the access, located at 28495 State Park Road 100-North, on South Padre Island.
In other words, SpaceX is paying almost the entire bill for this work. It might now have the power to close these beaches when necessary, but it is also acting like a good citizen, improving those beaches for everyone when they are open.
It is expected this work will be completed by next year.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
This is a bit off-topic for this article, but I’m hearing that the California Coastal Commission unanimously rejected a request to allow SpaceX to increase its launch cadence at Vandenberg Space Force Base to 100 launches per year, to allow SpaceX to launch Falcon Heavy from Vandenberg, to allow the modification of SLC-6 for Falcon launches, and to allow the construction of landing pads for returning Falcon stages.
I haven’t been able to confirm this from official sources, so perhaps this is premature, but it sounds like it could be the basis of another article on Behind the Black. :-)
This kind of goes back to the idea that Commercial Space (aka Capitalism) is one of the next important sunrise industries — part and parcel of the reindustrialization of this country — and its growth and profits will help to fund and create the infrastructure of the future. (As of this moment, has anyone figured out what percentage of our GDP comes from this sector? Likewise, its projected contribution in the future.)
What SpaceX is doing in Boca Chica is a perfect example of how our traditional system works to the benefit of everyone, even if nobody in California, Washington State, or New York City has a glimmer. Instead, they seem to believe that “free stuff” like beach access improvements (or low cost housing and groceries) just happens, and there need be nothing in the way of creating the real wealth of actual goods and services to generate a surplus that can then be used in such a fashion. “Wealth without productive work.” Wouldn’t it be nice.
mkent: The commission had its meeting today to address the Space Force/SpaceX proposal. I expect we shall see reports by tomorrow, which I am definitely planning to post and comment on. All evidence suggests the commission was going to reject the proposal, though it has no power to impose its will.
More to come tomorrow.
They’re just doing that to help fish Starship debris out of the gulf!
But it will be nice for launch tourists who will be able to get a beach day in while they’re in town.
”…though it has no power to impose its will.”
Oh, I don’t think for a second that this regional HOA is going to stand in the way of the Trump Space Force’s launching of Falcon Heavies from the West Coast. It just seems to me to be yet another example of petty (in both senses of the word) bureaucrats letting their little bit of power go to their head. Such is the nature of bureaucrats, I guess.
John
That must be sarcasm.
Its a good one.
What is the nearest population to use this new beach access? Star base. This seems to be more for the local population/employee desires in the growing need for entertainment and amusement for the families of Boca Chica, to keep the restless natives entertained. I predict this will be the first of many attractions coming to the area to fill the entertainment vacuum and as John suggested, keep the tourist dollars local.
Sir, you’re a great engineer… how would you like to work for SpaceX?, to sell your house and move your family to a swamp in southern Texas?
An employer must make the job offer more appealing.
Next, expect a boat launch with fishing excursions and a man-made harbor or island for the yachts that’ll soon be parked there. Ocean front property is the best resource. Protecting the beach is a great start.
“Sir, you’re a great engineer… how would you like to work for SpaceX?, to sell your house and move your family to a swamp in southern Texas?”
Well, a lot of great engineers moved to the Nevada desert, which on the whole, appears less attractive than southern Texas. Starbase does have the benefit of water, and fishing in the Gulf. Also hurricanes, which, admittedly, are less of a problem in the desert.
Darn that Elon Musk and his…his….his exuberant personal charity to his local community!
Milt,
You wrote: “… there need be nothing in the way of creating the real wealth of actual goods and services to generate a surplus that can then be used in such a fashion. ‘Wealth without productive work.’ Wouldn’t it be nice.”
This is not new. It is sometimes called “quantitative easing” or “printing money.” Wealth is created with a minimum of work, and it is nice. Until the economy tanks like in the Weimar Republic, or Zimbabwe, or more mildly in Biden’s America. It did the job for the Weimar Republic, in which inflation dramatically reduced the value of the WWI (War to End All Wars) reparations that Germany had to pay. The reparations went from an unplayable amount to a value of around $1.95 American (year 2010 dollars), which Germany has finished paying off.
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Max,
You wrote: “An employer must make the job offer more appealing.”
Yes, The employer tells the prospective employee, “You get to play with the latest hot new toys.”
No, wait. I have that wrong. He says, “You get to build the latest hot new toys.” That is what sells the engineer to live in a swamp. (Ironically, a swamp that the government doesn’t want you to get wet.)