SpaceX Brownsville Space Port Opposed By Texas Environmentalists

MarkWhittington writes "The proposed SpaceX space port in Brownsville, Texas, has run into opposition from an environmental group. Environment Texas is conducting a petition drive to stop the project. According to a news release by the group, the proposed space port, which would include a launch pad and control and spacecraft processing facilities, would be 'almost surrounded' by a park and wildlife refuge. Environment Texas claims the launching of rockets would 'scare the heck' out of every creature in the area and would 'spray noxious chemicals all over the place.' The petition will demand SpaceX build the space port elsewhere." I suspect a lot of people in Brownsville are instead looking forward to the jobs, tourists and excitement that a spaceport would bring.

Comments

Yeah, that's a good argument.

[Anonymous Coward]

Really, why do people think "Because...Jobs!!" is a good way to make an argument?

Do you think it trumps the other concerns?

Maybe the problem is deeper than just one employer, maybe there are values other than just employment.

I know, putting people to work is the Holy Grail of society, but didn't we learn not to choose poorly?

Re:Is that even legal?

[PolygamousRanchKid]

Texas has a lot of hunting folks, and they tend to be in favor of preserving the environment . . . the environment is great hunting land.

Re:Is that even legal?

[DesScorp]

It consists of unemployed people from California, who moved to Texas looking for work.

You're not too far off from the truth there. While there's always been a small contingent of native liberals that gather in Austin, native Texans are vocally concerned about the waves of Californians moving to surrounding states. The thinking is that these people supported stupid policies that transformed California from the nation's envy to Greece with a Valley Girl accent, and now they're leaving California like locusts that have eaten up one field and are moving on to others. I've got friends there that are worried about Californians coming to Texas for the jobs, and then trying to turn Texas into California.

Re:Is that even legal?

[atriusofbricia]

I've got friends there that are worried about Californians coming to Texas for the jobs, and then trying to turn Texas into California.

You mean, a place with high-paying jobs that offer health-insurance, as well as some idea that just dumping crap into the environment might be a bad idea? That might actually be an improvement.

In the meantime, keep your paranoia to yourself.

It is not at all an unreasonable concern that people will vote for crap, California, and then when that place turns into the crap the voted for they go somewhere else and upon arrival they continue to vote for crap. Paranoia it isn't.