About the Author
Chad Swiatecki is a 20-year journalist who relocated to Austin from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He has written for Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Daily News, Texas Monthly, Austin American-Statesman and many other regional and national outlets.
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Stories by Chad Swiatecki
Considering a community-first approach to public safety and crime prevention
Criminal justice leaders at the state and federal levels see benefits in changing the idea of public safety in the U.S. to promote community intervention and public health approaches to problems like gun violence as well as most nonviolent crimes.…
Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 13, 2024
Federal grant provides $105M for Chavez-Fourth Street cap over rebuilt I-35
The city received a boost in its plan to construct broad, plaza-like caps over sunken portions of Interstate 35, with the announcement of a $105 million federal grant to fund a portion of the construction. On Monday, the U.S. Department…
Roads • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 12, 2024
Author, advocate explores universal income among solutions for homelessness
A San Francisco-based nonprofit group focused on helping people who are homeless is expanding basic income payments, with results that they hope can win over local elected officials willing to try the programs using public money. Kevin Adler, founder of…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 11, 2024
Musician advocates decry city's inaction on fair pay for SXSW performers
With South by Southwest set to kick off over the weekend, advocates for musicians are calling attention to what they say is inadequate progress on the issue of fair pay for official showcase performances during the festival. Those calls come…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 8, 2024
City preps for eclipse visitors at a pace to rival SXSW nights
Next month’s solar eclipse is expected to bring a short boost for local hotels that could match some of the nine-day stretch of South by Southwest. Austin’s location as one of the most opportune viewing spots in the path of…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 7, 2024
Music Commission's $3M budget request includes HAAM funds, marketing program
The Music Commission has asked the city for just over $3 million in the next budget to expand some existing programs and provide added economic and medical assistance for local musicians. At Monday’s meeting, the commission unanimously approved six requests…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 6, 2024
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AHFC approves $50M to fund more than 1,000 affordable, permanent supportive housing units
The city has approved more than $50 million in housing funds that will create more than 1,000 units of affordable housing, hundreds of which will serve as permanent supportive housing for people who are currently homeless. Last week, the Austin…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 5, 2024
Adjusted density bonus program pushes housing, affordability on commercial properties
Following a December court ruling that invalidated three changes to the city’s Land Development Code, City Council has approved an ordinance change that promotes housing density by using many of the components of the now-obsolete Vertical Mixed Use 2 ordinance.…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 4, 2024
HAAM seeks $500K in next year’s city budget to fund local musicians’ insurance
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is seeking ongoing support from the city and possibly Travis County to cover the costs of subsidized health insurance coverage for more than 2,000 local musicians annually. Tonight’s Music Commission meeting will feature a presentation…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 4, 2024
As Council prepped public support, local Google workers learned of layoffs
Some private-sector workplace drama took place in real time during Thursday’s City Council meeting, with a group of local Google workers learning they’d lost their jobs while commenting on a proposed city resolution intended to support their cause. On the…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 1, 2024
Budget ‘headwinds’ could force tough Council decisions headed into summer
City Council members received an early look at some of the difficult budget decisions they could face this summer thanks to an expected decline in sales tax revenue and the end of federal funding related to the American Rescue Plan…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 29, 2024
Council appears headed for pause on HealthSouth redevelopment plans
Members of City Council suggested Tuesday they’re inclined to hold off on selecting any redevelopment plans for the former HealthSouth site, in part because of the current real estate pipeline in the surrounding area and continued high interest rates that…
