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
- Cap Metro to shelve 46 new electric buses for a year after manufacturer bankruptcy
- Mobility Committee hears public concern regarding expansion of MoPac
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues nonprofit that serves homeless in South Austin
- Red River music proponents see city funding as sign of support, progress
- City-owned Austin Studios found to have generated $2.6B in economic impact
-
-
Discover News By District
-
-
Stories by Chad Swiatecki
Demand for skilled workers drives District 1 jobs training program
With job growth in Austin stronger than ever, and most analysts naming the region as one of the best job markets in the nation, Workforce Solutions Capital Area is trying to make traditionally underserved communities aware of the job training…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 17, 2022
City seeks developer to partner on transformation of two historic blocks
Over the next three months, the city’s quasi-governmental development entity will perform the early work that will result in a development plan next year for two long-discussed blocks in East Austin. This week’s Community Development Commission meeting featured a presentation…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 11, 2022
Music census leaders try new approach with lessons from other cities
Austin’s second attempt at using a music census to gather data about the state of local musicians and the creative economy is underway. The team conducting the census hopes to use lessons from the 2015 version, as well as results…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 10, 2022
Decision to hike pay to $22/hour will cause future budget deficits
The upcoming wage increases for city staff will cause budget deficits in coming years and force leaders to identify new revenue sources, according to analysis by the Human Resources Department. A memo released last week presents a number of scenarios…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 9, 2022
Music Commission wants to study pros and cons of expanded convention center
Before deciding its position on the proposed expansion of the Austin Convention Center, the Music Commission will form a working group to study details of the project that’s expected to cost up to $1.4 billion. Commissioners voted 7-1 at Monday’s…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 5, 2022
City eyes September start for guaranteed income program
The city’s taxpayer-funded guaranteed income program is expected to begin sending payments to its enrollees in September, marking a major step in the first-of-its-kind initiative by a Texas city. A city memo released Monday detailed the progress made since May,…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 4, 2022
Subscribe to our newsletter
Development panelists share thoughts, and some silence, on Austin's affordability issues
It took a question about the political pressures involved in the slow-moving, fractured process of updating the Land Development Code to bring an uncomfortable silence to a recent panel of real estate leaders discussing housing affordability issues in Austin. During…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 2, 2022
What is a live music venue? City Council looks to make it official
Nearly 32 years after declaring itself the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin is finally getting around to defining what, exactly, a live music venue is. A resolution on the agenda for today’s City Council meeting seeks to amend…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 28, 2022
City considers accreditation program for Sixth Street bars to improve security
City staff is considering an accreditation program for bars and nightlife businesses operating in the Sixth Street entertainment district downtown, pushing for more cooperation and standards for safety planning as part of the evolving plan to address safety concerns in…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 27, 2022
Red River Cultural District seeks new director to succeed Cowan
The Red River Cultural District is searching for a new executive director to lead the nonprofit organization that seeks to stabilize and improve the city’s most prominent cluster of live music venues. The search comes on the heels of the…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 26, 2022
Memo brings questions about affordability, public benefits for Statesman redevelopment
A new memo that forecasts significantly higher costs for affordable housing and other public benefits proposed by the city for the largest development project in the South Central Waterfront has raised a number of questions as the planned unit development…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 22, 2022
Community Development Commission pushes for affordability at Statesman project site
The Community Development Commission has asked City Council to require significant affordable housing be located on-site for the planned unit development for the former Austin American-Statesman property that is being led by Endeavor Real Estate Group. The commission voted unanimously…
