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
- Cap Metro to shelve 46 new electric buses for a year after manufacturer bankruptcy
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues nonprofit that serves homeless in South Austin
- Mobility Committee hears public concern regarding expansion of MoPac
- City-owned Austin Studios found to have generated $2.6B in economic impact
- Red River music proponents see city funding as sign of support, progress
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Stories by Chad Swiatecki
City anticipates legal challenges to race-based grants, including Live Music Fund
The city may need to roll back or adjust race-based considerations in some of its grant programs over concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts may in the coming months rule against the use of such criteria.…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 14, 2022
MACC board wants questions answered before approving expansion plan
Leaders from the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center want the public to have more input on plans to expand the Rainey Street facility, because of concerns early planning documents don’t provide enough details about public access and how…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 11, 2022
Alter wants outside audit to address boil-water incidents
Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter wants outside experts to conduct an audit of Austin Water to find out what operational issues and internal processes may have contributed to the city experiencing three boil-water incidents since 2018. On Monday, Alter posted…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 9, 2022
Council members want answers to boil-water incident by end of week
City Council members responsible for monitoring Austin Water service said they expect to receive a complete report by the end of this week explaining the cause behind the boil-water notice that went into effect on Saturday night. The Austin area…
Water • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 7, 2022
Local developers hear call for creative space partnerships through cultural trust
As the city’s recently activated Economic Development Corporation takes its first significant steps to preserve creative spaces, the local real estate and development community is starting to explore ways to partner and bring arts and music uses into new and…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 1, 2022
Opera house redevelopment project gets first OK
City Council unanimously approved the first reading of the proposed zoning change to three tracts just east of South Congress Avenue while signaling that there is much negotiating and bargaining awaiting the project, which aims to revive part of the…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 31, 2022
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Council appears ready to hit pause on downtown court relocation
City Council appears set to delay a decision on relocating the Downtown Austin Community Court to the former City Hall building on West Eighth Street. At Tuesday’s work session, Council Member Kathie Tovo said she planned to ask Council to…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 27, 2022
MACC expansion plans headed for review
City leaders are getting an up-close look this week at the project details for the long-planned expansion of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. The Design and the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory commissions are slated to…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 25, 2022
Chacon highlights priorities for Safer Sixth Street plan
Austin’s police chief has highlighted a handful of action steps as the most important things the police department can do to improve safety in the Sixth Street entertainment district, in the wake of a summer mass shooting that killed an…
Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 10, 2022
COTA accessibility task force expected to begin work this month
The county executive leading the push to improve disability access at Circuit of the Americas said he expects the proposed task force around that issue to begin its work later this month. Bruce Elfant, Travis County tax assessor-collector and voter…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 6, 2022
Chamber prez credits Austin’s rapid recovery to diverse local economy
Even after nearly two years of Covid-19 restrictions, Austin continues to have one of the strongest regional economies in the United States. Austin Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Laura Huffman says the key to that bounce-back comes from the…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 4, 2022
Pool’s 2022 priorities include district-level plans, increased EV use
With City Council set on implementing building code changes by individual plans and priorities, Council Member Leslie Pool said in 2022 every member of Council will get their own “time to shine” with the chance to push the changes important…
