The Development Services Department is introducing the DSD Info Series, a new initiative aimed at providing community members with knowledge on permitting, housing development and property maintenance. The sessions, available both online and in-person, will connect Austinites with city resources and services. The first session, “Permitting: Where Do I Start?”, takes place March 25 and […]
Chad Swiatecki
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.
Posted inWhispers
‘Get Hired Austin’ campaign looks to fill city job vacancies
The city has launched “Get Hired in Austin,” a recruitment campaign aimed at attracting public servants looking to continue their careers in municipal government. The campaign highlights the benefits of living and working in Austin while focusing on filling positions with high vacancy rates, including roles in engineering, information technology and health care. It builds […]
Posted inHousing
Icon Homes prepping smaller home printing tech to meet Austin’s infill push
Austin-based 3D-printed home manufacturer Icon Homes has plans to use new building technology created specifically to take advantage of the city’s push for smaller infill homes. After speaking at a South by Southwest panel last week focused on the push to “future-proof” sustainably built new homes against severe weather and changing needs, Jared Kuhn, Icon’s […]
Posted inHousing
Housing panelists examine what’s worked in Austin, and across Texas
At a South by Southwest panel discussion last week on housing policies in Texas, City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison shared possible new components of the “agrihood” housing-plus-agriculture approach she championed last year. While sharing her views on steps the city has taken in recent years to address affordability concerns around housing, Harper-Madison talked about the […]
Posted inHousing
SXSW panel looks at national housing shortage – and how Austin is responding
Cities across the nation are facing the same housing crunch that Austin has spent recent years trying to correct, with a new report from Realtor.com showing a gap of 3.8 million houses and apartment units across the country. Those findings served as the jumping-off point for Monday’s South by Southwest panel discussion that included Mayor […]
Posted inWhispers
New arts/culture/music office could become standalone department
The city’s newly established Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment could transition into existing as a separate department through the upcoming budget process. At last week’s Music Commission meeting, staff discussed the prospects and next steps to consolidate cultural, artistic and entertainment-related programs and staff from multiple city departments into a unified entity aimed […]
Posted inWhispers
Infrastructure Academy celebrates launch with career fair
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is set to launch the Austin Infrastructure Academy with a career fair at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 26. The event will be held at Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s north location in Austin. The academy aims to connect local talent with opportunities in Austin’s expanding infrastructure sector. In March 2024, Mayor Kirk […]
Posted inAustin
Watson warns of Austin’s ‘budget asteroids’ in speech to real estate council
At last week’s annual address to the Real Estate Council of Austin, Mayor Kirk Watson stressed a number of “budget asteroids” the city could face as a result of upcoming state and federal policy decisions. Along with the potential impact of tariffs on international goods, Watson explained to the room filled with developers and other […]
Posted inCity Council
Prompted by convention center controversy, Council seeks changes to public art program
In response to increasing scrutiny over Austin’s handling of public art, City Council voted Thursday to modernize the Art in Public Places program by updating policies to prevent mishandlings like the controversial deaccessioning of artwork at the Austin Convention Center. The resolution, which was approved on the consent agenda, follows a heated debate over the […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Early data suggest opening Sixth Street to traffic has improved public safety
Early data from the Austin Police Department suggests that a new public safety initiative aimed at reducing crime and violence on East Sixth Street is yielding positive results. The changes, which took effect in December, reintroduced vehicular traffic on weekend nights for the first time in decades, reversing a long-standing pedestrian-only policy in the entertainment […]
Posted inWhispers
Music commissioner suggests insurance co-op to help curb music venue costs
At Monday’s meeting of the Music Commission meeting, Pedro Carvalho, a commission member and co-owner of the Far Out Lounge music venue, floated the idea of using the Rally Austin nonprofit to create a cooperative insurance program to help local music venues manage rapidly increasing insurance costs. Carvalho suggested a model in which venues collectively […]
Posted inWhispers
Asian chamber hosts Austin/Asia market summit
The Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce will host the 2025 Asia x Austin International Market Summit on March 11 at the Austin Public Library’s Central Branch. The summit will highlight business opportunities between Central Texas and key Asian markets, featuring discussions on artificial intelligence, startup pitches and workforce development. Key sessions include a “Welcome […]