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
DAA, Urban Alchemy partner to improve outreach, services for downtown homeless population
Downtown Austin Alliance hopes its new pilot program will help to provide more services and housing opportunities to the homeless people clustered throughout the city’s central business district. On Thursday, the DAA announced its Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART),…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 19, 2024
City seeks McKinsey's $2M analysis of programs to address homelessness
Consulting giant McKinsey & Company could take up another study of the city, specifically how four local bodies including Central Health are working to address homelessness throughout the Austin area. At its meeting today, City Council will consider two items…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 18, 2024
Austin Energy fine-tuning plans for reliable, carbon-free power by 2035
Austin Energy leaders have prioritized reliability of the utility’s power generation at all times as one of the most important components of its next resource generation plan, which is expected to come before City Council for approval in March. During…
Energy • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 17, 2024
Short-term rentals come under Tourism Commission scrutiny, with Council action expected this year
Members of the Tourism Commission signaled this week that they intend to ask City Council to pursue new policies covering the short-term rental industry and the proliferation across the city of residences acting as de facto hotels. At Wednesday’s meeting,…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 12, 2024
Disability committee targets accessible housing needs for next city budget
Members of the city’s disability committee want to focus requests for next year’s budget on addressing the shortage of housing affordable for those who receive federal or state disability assistance, which typically falls short of the local threshold for affordable…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 11, 2024
Music Commission pushes Council to aid Red River venue district
The Music Commission wants City Council to approve a round of gap financing, possibly as part of mid-year budget amendments, to provide ongoing organizational support to the Red River Cultural District and its cluster of live music venues in the…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 10, 2024
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Foundation Communities seeks emergency funds and eyes coming apartment surge
Affordable housing nonprofit Foundation Communities has put out the call to raise an additional $50,000 to help cover emergency needs for low-income residents at risk of losing their homes. The group, which provides a number of support services to help…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 9, 2024
Economic forecasters see local climate as 'strong, but uncertain' in 2024
After years of financial shocks and ongoing government spending to offset the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, financial analysts expect 2024 to be less volatile but still somewhat uncertain for the nation and state. The good news for the Austin…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 8, 2024
In first year, Qadri touts progress on housing, collaboration and I-35 caps and stitches
Zo Qadri knew he’d have plenty to learn and adapt to as a new member of City Council after being sworn in last January. But the learning curve became an almost vertical climb as he and the staff in his…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 5, 2024
Mackenzie Kelly seeks common ground while pursuing public safety, housing goals in 2024
The photo above the light switch in City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly’s office captures her slim 4 percent win in the 2020 election for the District 6 seat. It serves as a reminder that she works for the 48 percent…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 3, 2024
Watson expects City Hall ‘shakeup’ to continue in 2024, with police contract a priority
Mayor Kirk Watson says he didn’t see the widespread shutdown of city services during the February ice storm as an opening to drastically restructure how the city government is organized. But he did take it as confirmation that it was…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 2, 2024
After hiatus, Harper-Madison puts focus on wellness, community involvement
Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison speaks plainly about the burnout and fatigue she was facing for much of 2023, which led to her decision in September to take a nearly two-month leave of absence from her seat on City Council. A…
