Stories by Chad Swiatecki
Business leaders see continued growth with airport's expansion plans
Even with expansion plans somewhat scaled back because of the financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, local business leaders see the continued growth of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport as vital to the region’s long-term economic prospects. At a recent panel held…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 28, 2022
Council cautiously supports city's look into blockchain, crypto
City Council members want city staff to move very deliberately if a pair of resolutions are passed today that encourage exploration into the use of blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies in the coming years. At Tuesday’s work session, discussion on the…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 24, 2022
Downtown court relocation plans draw mounting criticism
Resistance appears to be growing to a slate of resolutions on the agenda for Thursday’s City Council meeting that would lead to the permanent relocation of the Downtown Austin Community Court to a circa-1800s municipal building on West Eighth Street.…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 22, 2022
Civil rights office could take over enforcement of city's ADA regulations
The city may fold enforcement of all concerns related to the Americans with Disabilities Act into the Office of Civil Rights, a change that would take those responsibilities away from human resources staff. A resolution was passed unanimously at this month’s…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 21, 2022
Resolutions push city to look toward future use of crypto, blockchain tech
Payments for city services via cryptocurrency could become a reality in the near future, as could storage and processing of paperwork using blockchain ledger technology. Those are two of the possible outcomes from a pair of resolutions set for consideration…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 18, 2022
Council to consider equitable funding levels for minority chambers of commerce
The city appears to have struck a bargain with four niche chambers of commerce to more equitably distribute each of their annual funding allocations from the city budget. Discussions have been ongoing for years about how to “normalize” the city’s…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 17, 2022
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Commissioners want business, tech funds to support creative sector
The Austin business community, particularly the technology companies flocking to the area, will likely be asked this year to increase their support for a creative sector that is being squeezed by the rising cost of living across the city. Members…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 15, 2022
As Covid numbers improve, city eyes increasing homeless shelter capacity
As Covid-19 infections and other public health indicators related to the pandemic continue to improve locally, City Council members want advocates for the area’s homeless population to look at increasing capacity at shelters around the city. At a recent joint…
Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 14, 2022
Musicians playing city events could see pay bump to $200 per hour
Musicians performing at events organized by the city could see a pay increase to $200 per hour, the first increase since 2016, when the rate was set at $150 per hour. The Music Commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend the…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 11, 2022
Compensation study for Council staffers could lead to pay increases
City Council members appear ready to pursue increased salaries for their office staff as an answer to the city’s affordability crisis and the current competitive hiring environment that makes it difficult to retain workers. At last week’s work session, Joya…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 10, 2022
City, county leaders stress caution to keep Covid numbers down through SXSW
The city and organizers of the South by Southwest festival have asked attendees of credentialed and free events to have proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid-19 test if they plan on participating in this year’s event. Local leaders…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 8, 2022
City had data, but not follow-through, to 'fix' Sixth Street in 2014
City leaders had a pair of reports nearly a decade ago that prescribed changes to make the downtown Sixth Street entertainment district safer, yet many of those actions were never implemented despite a 2014 City Council resolution that included several…
