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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Discover News By District
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Stories by Chad Swiatecki
Downtown Commission wants financing plan, study on convention center expansion
With the city expected to begin entering into engineering and design contracts next spring related to a revised expansion of the Austin Convention Center, the Downtown Commission has asked for a detailed financing plan and market analysis for the public…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 20, 2021
Early redistricting map reflects population growth of Northwest Austin
City Council districts for the rest of the decade will largely look the same as those created in 2013, based on the reveal of the preliminary map that has been in the works for much of this year. While the…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 17, 2021
Music Commission's oversight could further delay emergency funds for musicians
The Music Commission has asked city staff for more input and involvement in how a pair of financial assistance programs for Austin musicians will be carried out, with an emergency aid fund tied to Covid-19 possibly delayed three weeks as…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 16, 2021
'No Way on Prop A' campaign opposes police staffing initiative
A political action committee focused on defeating a November ballot proposal that would significantly increase the size of the Austin Police Department held its first formal campaign event Thursday. More than 80 community groups and more than three dozen local…
Bonds & Propositions • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 10, 2021
Transportation budget includes post-pandemic rebound in parking fees
The Transportation Department’s $152 million budget was made possible in part by a rebound in parking revenue after a steep decline caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which drastically reduced single-passenger vehicle use for much of 2020. In a presentation to…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 30, 2021
Council questions proposed arts funding change that emphasizes equity
City Council has asked Cultural Arts staff to look at revising or delaying its plan to significantly redistribute its limited pool of contracts toward groups that meet an increased focus on equity. At a Tuesday work session presentation, the proposed…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 26, 2021
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Renteria opposes Red River extension into Rainey Street, MACC area
Council Member Pio Renteria has come out against a proposal to create a new roadway through the Rainey Street district that would require using some of the land provided by the city for the creation of the Emma S. Barrientos…
Roads • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 24, 2021
City to expand federal aid for musicians, venues impacted by Covid-19
The city will provide more assistance for music venues and anyone involved in the music industry, using $4 million in federal money designated for Covid-19 relief. On Friday the Music Commission approved a recommendation for guidelines for city staff to…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 23, 2021
Questions linger on both sides of $1.1M guaranteed income pilot program
Initial details of the city’s forthcoming pilot program to provide guaranteed income assistance to vulnerable families are expected to emerge later this fall, with just over 100 households expected to receive around $1,000 per month. A spokesperson for the city’s…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 19, 2021
City eyes $3M for two resiliency hubs to aid weather emergency response
City staffers are recommending a pilot project to create two facilities to act as tryout resiliency hubs that would provide basic utilities and services to nearby residents during climate emergencies and other extreme conditions. A memo released last week by…
Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 17, 2021
Council funds guaranteed income pilot program
Joining the ranks of a handful of other cities interested in adopting some form of ongoing assistance for low-income residents, Austin has committed more than $1 million to study the creation of a guaranteed income program for the city’s most vulnerable…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 16, 2021
Red River extension into Rainey neighborhood draws concern from MACC backers
The city’s Transportation Department is circulating the latest plans for a southern expansion of Red River Street, which would create a new thoroughfare through the Rainey Street neighborhood to address growing traffic concerns. While the heaviest public comment on the…
