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
- Latest State of Downtown report shows the city core’s businesses and housing are in transition
- Cap Metro to shelve 46 new electric buses for a year after manufacturer bankruptcy
- Jesús Garza disputes allegation that he violated city ethics rule
- Mobility Committee hears public concern regarding expansion of MoPac
- Council gives first reading OK to major development on tiny slice of land
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Stories by Chad Swiatecki
Austin Energy fine-tuning plans for reliable, carbon-free power by 2035
Austin Energy leaders have prioritized reliability of the utility’s power generation at all times as one of the most important components of its next resource generation plan, which is expected to come before City Council for approval in March. During…
Energy • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 17, 2024
Short-term rentals come under Tourism Commission scrutiny, with Council action expected this year
Members of the Tourism Commission signaled this week that they intend to ask City Council to pursue new policies covering the short-term rental industry and the proliferation across the city of residences acting as de facto hotels. At Wednesday’s meeting,…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 12, 2024
Disability committee targets accessible housing needs for next city budget
Members of the city’s disability committee want to focus requests for next year’s budget on addressing the shortage of housing affordable for those who receive federal or state disability assistance, which typically falls short of the local threshold for affordable…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 11, 2024
Music Commission pushes Council to aid Red River venue district
The Music Commission wants City Council to approve a round of gap financing, possibly as part of mid-year budget amendments, to provide ongoing organizational support to the Red River Cultural District and its cluster of live music venues in the…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 10, 2024
Foundation Communities seeks emergency funds and eyes coming apartment surge
Affordable housing nonprofit Foundation Communities has put out the call to raise an additional $50,000 to help cover emergency needs for low-income residents at risk of losing their homes. The group, which provides a number of support services to help…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 9, 2024
Economic forecasters see local climate as 'strong, but uncertain' in 2024
After years of financial shocks and ongoing government spending to offset the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, financial analysts expect 2024 to be less volatile but still somewhat uncertain for the nation and state. The good news for the Austin…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 8, 2024
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In first year, Qadri touts progress on housing, collaboration and I-35 caps and stitches
Zo Qadri knew he’d have plenty to learn and adapt to as a new member of City Council after being sworn in last January. But the learning curve became an almost vertical climb as he and the staff in his…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 5, 2024
Mackenzie Kelly seeks common ground while pursuing public safety, housing goals in 2024
The photo above the light switch in City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly’s office captures her slim 4 percent win in the 2020 election for the District 6 seat. It serves as a reminder that she works for the 48 percent…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 3, 2024
Watson expects City Hall ‘shakeup’ to continue in 2024, with police contract a priority
Mayor Kirk Watson says he didn’t see the widespread shutdown of city services during the February ice storm as an opening to drastically restructure how the city government is organized. But he did take it as confirmation that it was…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 2, 2024
After hiatus, Harper-Madison puts focus on wellness, community involvement
Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison speaks plainly about the burnout and fatigue she was facing for much of 2023, which led to her decision in September to take a nearly two-month leave of absence from her seat on City Council. A…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 28, 2023
Life sciences talk brings major development news at Urban Land Institute panel
The life sciences industry in Austin is so active and bustling with deals and investments that, over the course of an hour’s discussion last week, leaders in the field dropped a pair of hints about forthcoming significant developments for the…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 19, 2023
Council seeks financial assistance for homeowners looking to add units to properties
City Council intends to help homeowners at risk of displacement with a program that will provide down payment assistance to those wishing to add more residential units to their properties. At last Thursday’s meeting, Council approved a resolution directing the…
