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Residents and environmental groups urge Cameron County to reject Ceramic Technologies abatement
Summary
Dozens of speakers at a June 2 public hearing told the commissioners the county should not grant a 95% tax abatement to Ceramic Technologies, citing environmental damage, native sites, transparency problems and the company's defense ties.
Scores of Cameron County residents and members of environmental-justice organizations urged commissioners on June 2 to vote against proposed tax abatements for Ceramic Technologies' Port Alpha project. Speakers repeatedly raised concerns about air and water quality, loss of native habitat, cumulative pollution near existing industrial sites and the moral implications of subsidizing a company that develops military-capable autonomous vessels.
"This is a $1,000,000,000 weapons manufacturer corporation, and they do not need a tax break from our low income county," Becca Inahosa said, summarizing themes expressed by multiple speakers who described secrecy around "Project Hercules" and reported difficulty obtaining public records from the port. Dr. Joshua Etienne Rosas, calling the proposal part of a larger pattern, said the company is backed by venture capital and compared the pitch to prior speculative tech investments that left communities with long-term costs and unmet promises.
Commenters asked the court to demand concrete environmental-impact estimates, air-emission figures, water-use forecasts and enforceable local hiring guarantees before any tax incentives are considered. Several speakers asked the commission to table or reject the application; the court ultimately tabled the item to allow more information and full participation of all commissioners.
