The Housing and Independent Living Task Force Austin has launched a local housing market analysis to assess the needs of adults with autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities in Austin. The effort, supported by a new special project fund at the Austin Community Foundation, seeks to identify housing barriers and explore solutions across public, private, […]
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
RRCD kicks off District Dialogues event series
Red River Cultural District’s focus this year on telling its story and highlighting the connections between music, heritage, culture and commerce will kick off March 1 with its first District Dialogues event. The quarterly event series is designed to spark conversation, showcase creatives and bring the community together. The first edition takes place at Swan […]
Posted inHousing
City needs up to eight permanent supportive housing projects per year to solve homeless housing
The city’s housing staff members acknowledge a need to accelerate the pace of new permanent supportive housing projects in the coming years to meet the long-term goal of 5,000 additional units over the next decade to address the long-term needs of people experiencing homelessness. At its latest meeting, City Council’s Public Health Committee reviewed the […]
Posted inWhispers
Edwards Aquifer group wants balance in housing growth, water protection
The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA) is urging state lawmakers to caution against policies that could jeopardize long-term water security. In a newly released report, called “Water for Residents: Ensuring housing solutions do not worsen the water crisis in the Edwards and Trinity aquifer region,” the organization highlights how urban sprawl, regulatory rollbacks and development […]
Posted inCity Hall
Push to consolidate city boards and commissions draws criticism from UTC
The Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) voiced opposition to a City Council-backed proposal to consolidate several of Austin’s boards and commissions, including a plan to merge the Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) and Pedestrian Advisory Council (PAC) into the UTC. The proposal, aimed at streamlining city operations and reducing administrative burdens, could come back to Council for […]
Posted inWhispers
DAA accepting nominees for Future of Downtown Awards
The Downtown Austin Alliance is still accepting nominations for the 2025 Future of Downtown Awards, honoring individuals and groups that have significantly contributed to the vibrancy and community of downtown Austin. The nomination form is available online and will close at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. Award winners will be recognized at the Downtown Austin […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Bills covering DEI, handguns draw concern from Music Commission
A proposed state bill that would allow licensed handguns into events held on government property was met with concern by members of the Music Commission on Monday. House Bill 1715, which has been proposed for this year’s legislative session, was one of the bills discussed during a briefing from city staff on how city programs […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin United Way names Ingrid Taylor new CEO
United Way for Greater Austin has named Ingrid K. Taylor as its new chief executive officer, with a March 1 start date. Taylor brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including positions at Ascension Texas, the University of Texas at Austin, the Texas Comptroller’s Office and the United States Senate. She also served […]
Posted inWhispers
Input wanted for core transportation plan
The city is seeking public feedback on the Austin Core Transportation Plan, a strategy aimed at enhancing transportation and mobility in and around downtown Austin that is currently under review by various city boards and commissions. The ACT Plan builds on previous initiatives and anticipates significant upcoming projects, such as I-35 Capital Express Central and […]
Posted inWhispers
HUD awards $14M to Austin-area homeless services groups
Organizations in Austin and Travis County will receive nearly $14 million in federal funding to support housing and services for individuals experiencing homelessness, marking the largest award to date from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care program. The funding represents a $2 million increase from last year and will support […]
Posted inWhispers
Tesla planning Austin launch of autonomous taxi service
Tesla has announced plans to launch its robotaxi service in Austin this June. The paid service will utilize a fleet of driverless Tesla vehicles equipped with the company’s unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. Initially, the fleet will comprise existing Tesla models, with the specialized Cybercab expected to enter production in 2026. The move will put […]
Posted inCity Hall
Study of arts, music grant programs finds gaps among award recipients
A new study examining how Austin distributes Hotel Occupancy Tax funds for arts and culture programs found that some groups and areas of the city are missing out on the progress being made in helping some historically underserved communities. The study conducted by the research group Measure looked at Cultural Arts programs like Elevate and […]