“Can Austin be a carbon-free energy city by 2030?” was one of the more prominent questions up for debate Wednesday as the City Council’s Energy Utility Oversight Committee got its first update on the 10-year road map for Austin Energy’s resource needs and climate protection objectives. The discussion came during a presentation from Khalil Shalabi, […]
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 inCity Council
New library cost could climb to $126 million with Council’s OK
City Council will consider what is hoped to be the final spending increase for the long-in-the-works Austin Central Library on Thursday, with the total price tag for the project set to fall somewhere just under $126.6 million. The agenda item asks Council to authorize spending $5.5 million that was included from three different sources in […]
Posted inAustin
Virtual reality expected to help city attract billions in foreign investment
Through the use of virtual reality, the city of Austin is turning to the thriving local video game industry to help attract overseas investors and billions of dollars in new economic development money. The hope is that local developers can create a mobile app that will utilize virtual or augmented reality technology to showcase some […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Armed with cash, group looks to encourage arts spaces among developers
The Austin Creative Alliance will step up its efforts to encourage developers to carve out arts spaces in Austin thanks to a gift that is expected to fuel a five-year push at City Hall and throughout the city. The group announced the $100,000 gift from a local financial planner and theater supporter at the ACA […]
Posted inAustin
Character, retention of businesses fuel expansion of Soul-y Austin
Though he works on the very same block, Josh Blaine had never been inside East Austin’s Vortex theater prior to attending a meeting of what is now the Manor Road Merchants Association. But as manager of the In.gredients neighborhood grocery store, Blaine said he fell victim to the habit that many business owners and managers […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Creative summit spurs talk of arts bond
With growth and development touching every corner of Austin, and rents and property values increasing as a result, boosters in the local arts community want business and political leaders to think big about how to preserve creative spaces for years to come. Exactly how big is an open question, but some in the creative world […]
Posted inLocal Politics
With 100,000 potential voters, Austin tech groups flex political muscle
Imagine 100,000 dormant, unengaged voters just waiting to be drawn into the Austin political scene. That’s the potential that a pair of local technology groups see in the Austin tech community, which they hope to get involved in the local and state political scene in the coming years so they can shape policy to favor […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Curfew relief in sight for Red River music venues
A handful of music venues along Red River Street between Sixth and 10th streets could soon have a later sound curfew for outdoor music. On Monday, the Music Commission unanimously passed an item that venue owners and other music boosters hope will result in a pilot program to study the effect of allowing live music […]
Posted inPolice
Police body cam footage remains touchy subject as court case awaits
While the implementation of a planned deployment of body cameras on Austin Police Department officers is on hold until at least late November, city leaders and public accountability advocates are still working out the issue of how the city will decide when to release video footage from those cameras for public review. At issue are two […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
City lands $10 million “minibond” agreement to save endangered music venues
The city of Austin will team up with private investors to save some of the city’s most iconic — and increasingly economically distressed — music venues through a new program announced prior to Thursday’s City Council meeting. Mayor Steve Adler announced the forthcoming creation of a $10 million municipal “minibond,” the creation of which will be […]
Posted inCity Hall
City on course to add 330 electric vehicles by 2020
The city of Austin’s vehicle fleet appears likely to see a large infusion of electric vehicles in the coming years, as part of the city’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2050. The target of Austin Energy and the fleet operations department is to add 330 plug-in electric vehicles by 2020, with acquisitions beginning in […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Austin’s ‘big three’ parks to see fewer events
The number of festivals and large events at Austin’s highest-profile public parks could decrease in the coming years if City Council follows through on recommendations expected from the Parklands Events Task Force. Shifting usage away from the city’s “big three” parks – Zilker Park, Auditorium Shores and Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach in […]