Don’t let Elon Musk mess with Texas
Ground control to Elon Musk: Texas’ safety and security should always come before a person’s personal business interests — even if that person happens to be one of the richest people on Earth.
It’s unfortunate this even needs to be said. However, given that Spacex’s third rocket in a row recently blew up in Texas, including at least one that did not receive a waiver to exceed the maximum allowable public risk, this point is apparently not as straightforward as one may think.
Sadly, these types of negligent occurrences have become all too familiar for Texas residents, who have had to endure six years of what many categorize as Musk’s disregard for their wants and needs.
Often treated as an inconvenience, Texans have grown increasingly frustrated with their space neighbor, who many now see as an opportunist instead of a community partner. In a tweet, a reporter described Musk as “taking over public resources (beaches, wildlife preserves) and other people’s property just because he wants it.”
Although most Texans have been able to ignore Musk’s disturbances, his recent decision to go “all in” on Texas means his destructive behavior could soon become an even bigger statewide phenomenon if local lawmakers don’t fight back.
Musk recently drummed up talks of creating a new city called “Starbase” within Texas. He also recently chose Texas as the home for his new Tesla cybertruck factory, an investment many believe will bring jobs and stimulus to the state’s growing tech community.
Although some minor debate took place before the move — like if redirecting millions of dollars from a low-income school district to provide tax incentives to a near trillion-dollar company was a good idea — it was only a matter of time before officials reached a deal with the company.
Problems with other Tesla factory deals indicate that Tesla’s new Texas plant may soon face the same accusations of public harm and broken promises that have plagued Spacex’s run in the Lone Star State.
Take Tesla’s New York plant, for example, which has struggled to deliver on the jobs and economic stimulus it promised to the Empire State. As a result, lawmakers passed amendments to the contract, seemingly to help Tesla avoid massive fines
and to shield state officials from public criticism.
Texas officials cannot afford to let the billionaire get off so easily. For taxpayers’ sake, they need to hold Musk’s feet to the fire and ensure that his company upholds the terms of the state’s contract.
However, thus far, Musk has yet to receive much pushback from Texas officials for the controversial actions he has already taken in the state. The lack of consequences he has faced for what locals categorize as poor behavior is likely why complaints against him continue to arise.
Texans’ property and independence are put at significant risk by allowing Musk and his company to operate with such few safeguards and accountability measures in place.
Texas remains a leader in business relocation because of its economic-friendly environment. State officials cannot afford to let a man whose company can afford to put over a billion dollars into cryptocurrency while asking our states’ most vulnerable for millions in tax breaks to abuse these favorable business conditions.
If we aren’t responsible with the handouts Musk receives, Texans’ hard-earned tax dollars may be the next thing that goes up in smoke.