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.
Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
-
-
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
-
-
Discover News By District
-
Stories by Chad Swiatecki
Zilker advocates form nonprofit to take lead as vision plan moves forward
Leaders from nonprofit groups attached to Zilker Park have formed a new nonprofit group intended to enhance and preserve the 351-acre metropolitan park that is expected to be transformed in the coming years. The Zilker 351 group announced its formation…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 5, 2023
Conservation Corps sees success, and possible expansion, in city memo
An evaluation of the city’s Civilian Conservation Corps program shows that nearly 200 people have been placed in city jobs in areas that had been historically difficult to fill. A memo released last week by Kimberly McNeeley, director of the…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 3, 2023
Council approves review of historic preservation incentives, with eye on equity
City Council wants incentives connected to historic preservation to be used more equitably, and has directed the city manager to review and suggest changes to city policies that could result in more historic designations in East Austin. Last week Council…
Preservation • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 30, 2023
Parks board delays SXSW fair pay action until June
The Parks and Recreation Board has signaled it will ask City Council to require fair pay standards to be included in all future contracts with South by Southwest, including its use of Auditorium Shores for free concerts for the public.…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 29, 2023
State police to supplement APD officers amid ongoing staffing problems
The city has entered into a partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety to supplement the Austin Police Department amid its ongoing staffing shortage and a public perception that the city has too few police officers. The partnership was…
Police • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 28, 2023
Council delays vote to expand e-scooter regulations, fines
City Council will wait until next month to begin the work that will bring more regulations and standards to the city’s bustling market for motorized scooters. Council voted on Thursday to delay action on a resolution that would direct city…
Transportation • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 24, 2023
Subscribe to our newsletter
Developers, planners explore racial equity goals for building Austin
Members of Austin’s real estate and development community considered plenty of questions and ideas Wednesday concerning how to improve and prioritize racial equity in building projects throughout fast-growing Austin. No all-encompassing answers or silver-bullet tactics were revealed by the panel…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 23, 2023
Activists push to improve East Austin cultural spaces as city land heads for development
Arts stakeholders and local preservationists are pushing the city to make good on a 2021 resolution to improve and invest in a portion of East Austin known as the African American Cultural Heritage District. The group’s work, which is aimed…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 22, 2023
Project Connect scenarios balance budgets against potential size and ridership
Cost constraints facing Austin’s planned light rail line through downtown have resulted in five options that feature shorter routes and place tracks at street level with traffic, in a substantial departure from the initial plans approved by voters in 2020.…
Transit • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 21, 2023
New forecast modeling puts Austin homeless population near 4,600
New methods for counting and forecasting by one of Austin’s leading homelessness services organizations suggests nearly 4,600 people are experiencing homelessness in the city, far higher than previous estimates and counts using federal guidelines. The new figure was revealed at…
Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 20, 2023
Rally draws attention to criticism of SXSW artist pay
Union organizers for musicians took their criticism of South by Southwest’s artist payment practices to the street on Thursday, gathering outside the Austin Convention Center to rally and draw attention to their demand for increased compensation for the hundreds of…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 17, 2023
3D home printer opens $1M competition as 'affordability moonshot'
Austin-based 3D-printed home manufacturer Icon is looking for designers and college students from all over the world to propose advancements in architecture that could bring the cost of homes under $99,000. The company announced its Initiative 99 contest on Wednesday…
