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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Most Popular Stories
- Democrats vs. Republicans: First election coming for Travis Central Appraisal District board
- New federal cash paves way for East Austin’s ‘wishbone’ bridge over Lady Bird Lake
- Austin’s airport is getting a new concourse and 20 more gates but not until the 2030s
- New rules in the works for electric vehicle charging stations
- Budget deficit looms over city this year and beyond
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Discover News By District
Stories by Chad Swiatecki
City moving ahead with five-year food security plan
The Office of Sustainability will soon begin recruiting community members interested in helping to create the city’s first comprehensive food plan, which is intended to address food scarcity and build up the community’s resilience to withstand natural disasters. The plan…
Resources • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 25, 2022
Trash and scooters still clogging Austin creeks, study finds
The city’s attempts to keep garbage out of local creeks are still being stymied by discarded motorized scooters, according to the findings of a roughly six-month analysis of 20 watersheds throughout Austin. A memo released last week presented the findings…
Environment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 23, 2022
Mosaic hub closure brings scrutiny, urgency to city's creative space bonds process
News of the impending closure of the Mosaic Sound Collective creative hub has brought attention to the growing need in the arts community for the city to deliver on its assistance efforts, specifically the $12 million on bond funding voters…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 22, 2022
Stream offers more details on Sixth Street renovation plans
Stream Realty Partners offered up more information this week on its plans to remake a section of the Sixth Street entertainment district, emphasizing daytime business and a move away from the high-volume shot bars and nightclubs that have dominated the…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 19, 2022
Demand for skilled workers drives District 1 jobs training program
With job growth in Austin stronger than ever, and most analysts naming the region as one of the best job markets in the nation, Workforce Solutions Capital Area is trying to make traditionally underserved communities aware of the job training…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 17, 2022
City seeks developer to partner on transformation of two historic blocks
Over the next three months, the city’s quasi-governmental development entity will perform the early work that will result in a development plan next year for two long-discussed blocks in East Austin. This week’s Community Development Commission meeting featured a presentation…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 11, 2022
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Music census leaders try new approach with lessons from other cities
Austin’s second attempt at using a music census to gather data about the state of local musicians and the creative economy is underway. The team conducting the census hopes to use lessons from the 2015 version, as well as results…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 10, 2022
Decision to hike pay to $22/hour will cause future budget deficits
The upcoming wage increases for city staff will cause budget deficits in coming years and force leaders to identify new revenue sources, according to analysis by the Human Resources Department. A memo released last week presents a number of scenarios…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 9, 2022
Music Commission wants to study pros and cons of expanded convention center
Before deciding its position on the proposed expansion of the Austin Convention Center, the Music Commission will form a working group to study details of the project that’s expected to cost up to $1.4 billion. Commissioners voted 7-1 at Monday’s…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 5, 2022
City eyes September start for guaranteed income program
The city’s taxpayer-funded guaranteed income program is expected to begin sending payments to its enrollees in September, marking a major step in the first-of-its-kind initiative by a Texas city. A city memo released Monday detailed the progress made since May,…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 4, 2022
Development panelists share thoughts, and some silence, on Austin's affordability issues
It took a question about the political pressures involved in the slow-moving, fractured process of updating the Land Development Code to bring an uncomfortable silence to a recent panel of real estate leaders discussing housing affordability issues in Austin. During…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 2, 2022
What is a live music venue? City Council looks to make it official
Nearly 32 years after declaring itself the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin is finally getting around to defining what, exactly, a live music venue is. A resolution on the agenda for today’s City Council meeting seeks to amend…
