City Council has agreed to more than double its contribution toward a water infrastructure project that will service a project that recently disannexed from the western city limits. The unanimous approval of an amendment to the cost participation agreement between the city of Austin and Milestone Community Builders increases the city’s financial contribution by an […]
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
HAAM members prep for ACA open enrollment
The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is accepting appointments to prepare members who will need to enroll in coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace in early November. At Monday’s Music Commission meeting, HAAM CEO Paul Scott said the appointments would help musicians determine their appropriate levels of coverage and cost for the signup period, […]
Posted inElections
Time away from Council has prepped Tovo for mayoral bid
Having spent nearly two years away from the City Council dais after more than a decade as a Council member, Kathie Tovo said watching as a private citizen as city business has been conducted has given her valuable perspective. From land use to homelessness to the details of the long-in-coming contract with Austin Police Association, […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin group joins statewide supportive housing collaborative
The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation and Corporation for Supportive Housing have convened the latest cohort of the Texas Supportive Housing Institute, which aims to create 530 affordable homes across the state. The cohort includes a partnership with Austin-based entities Vecino Group and Family Eldercare. The team will focus on the development of Cairn Point […]
Posted inWhispers
Job fairs seeking workers with disabilities, manufacturing experience
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is helping to promote a pair of career fairs to help connect local workers with prospective employers, including those looking to fill thousands of manufacturing and skilled trades jobs needed locally in the coming decade. The Texas HireAbility Job Fair will take place at 9 a.m. Oct. 17 at Education Service […]
Posted inParks
Audit finds unpaid fees, lax rental practices at six PARD rec centers
The Office of the City Auditor has found widespread issues within the Austin Parks and Recreation Department related to inconsistent fee charges and collections for facility rentals at some community recreation centers. An audit report released Tuesday revealed that from January to July 2023, staff at six recreation centers — Austin Recreation Center, Dittmar Recreation […]
Posted inWhispers
Affordable housing group names new leaders
Travis County’s Strategic Housing Finance Corporation has announced David Dinoff as the new deputy director, as well as naming Alexandra Radtke as director of real estate. Dinoff previously served as director of real estate for Capital A Housing in Austin and also worked as director of community development for BCL of Texas nonprofit loan fund. […]
Posted inWhispers
Annexation law enables transfer of 34,000+ acres
More than 34,000 acres of land on over 1,000 parcels in Central Texas have been annexed out of the extraterritorial jurisdictions of area cities, according to an analysis by the Austin Business Journal. The annexations are the result of state Senate Bill 2038, which lets property owners on the boundaries of cities free themselves from […]
Posted inWater
Report looks at Austin Water leaks, losses that could fill 12,000 Olympic pools
Leaks and inefficiencies throughout the local water system cause Austin Water to lose more than 8 billion gallons per year – enough to fill 12,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The loss totals were some of the findings from a recent outside analysis by Black & Veatch that looked at Austin Water’s existing programs to track losses […]
Posted inWhispers
Cap Metro seeks survey participants for 2035 transit plan
Capital Metro is seeking participants for an online survey to help the agency craft its Transit Plan 2035, which is intended to identify the area’s transit needs through the next decade. The survey is open until Oct. 18, and there is a community open house scheduled for 4-8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Millennium Youth Entertainment […]
Posted inWhispers
Schools, city celebrate pedestrian trips to school
The city is encouraging local schools to participate in Wednesday’s National Walk and Roll to School Day, which invites students, teachers and staff to use pedestrian-friendly options to start the school day. Organizers tout the health benefits of walking as well as its role in reducing traffic and air pollution from vehicle exhaust fumes. The […]
Posted inPlanning
OK from Planning Commission sets up Council consideration for creative space incentives
The Planning Commission’s recent support for an incentive program for creative spaces in new developments gave City Council additional direction for how to address affordability for local arts spaces and the workers in those industries. Council is slated to conduct a public hearing and consider the ordinance change for the creative space combining district framework […]