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
- Lost Creek neighborhood sues city over tax efforts
- Density proponents encouraged by HOME six-month progress report
- Most Austin-area drivers will still need a vehicle inspection. Here’s where the rules have changed.
- City and county to invest in historically underserved Northeast Austin area
- Travis County Judge Andy Brown pledges continued focus on health care, passenger rail in 2025
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Stories by Chad Swiatecki
Watson, Council members refine direction in push to keep Marshalling Yard shelter open
Mayor Kirk Watson and other members of City Council want to give city staff specific directions and benchmarks in their work to keep the Marshalling Yard Emergency Shelter open indefinitely and keep other city shelters from becoming overwhelmed with the…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 24, 2024
Police, state ready to intervene on after-hours bars operating downtown
The Austin Police Department may soon take steps to punish downtown bars and nightclubs identified recently as potentially violating state liquor laws by operating and selling drinks after hours. At the latest meeting of the Downtown Commission, talk turned to…
Police • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 23, 2024
Panelists see progress, problems in Austin’s management of nightlife economy
Entertainment industry leaders see promise in Austin’s recent land use and policy changes that could positively impact the area’s nightlife economy, though they plan to push for further changes to streamline planning and approvals for those businesses. An online panel…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 20, 2024
Fuentes airs budget concerns over move to keep Marshalling Yard shelter open indefinitely
City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes has signaled her concerns with a resolution scheduled for next week’s meeting that could result in keeping a 300-bed emergency shelter open far longer than it was originally budgeted for. The resolution directs the city…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 19, 2024
Arts Commission weighs sizes of grants to aid underserved groups
Members of the Arts Commission want the city to show how effective new grant programs have been at reaching arts organizations from underserved communities, out of concern that large award amounts for the Thrive grant program may result in too…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 18, 2024
Tourism Commission considers consequences of decaying Dougherty Arts Center
Local arts leaders and members of the Tourism Commission hope to bring City Council’s attention to the lack of action on the deteriorating Dougherty Arts Center, which has been caught in a sort of planning and budgetary limbo for more…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 17, 2024
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Postponements spark talk of examining Council work sessions
The lack of City Council work session meetings in recent weeks appears to have played a large role in the postponement of a trio of programs pushed by the Economic Development Department that had been up for a vote at…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 16, 2024
Council delays vote, opts to fine-tune incentive program for creative spaces, legacy businesses
City Council plans to take the next two weeks to fine-tune the guidelines for a proposed place-based economic incentive program aimed at creative spaces, legacy businesses and community needs such as child care providers and grocery stores. Thursday’s meeting featured…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 13, 2024
Council could decide ‘agent of change’ noise dispute issue, after nearly a decade of debate
This week, City Council could end nearly a decade of waiting and staff work to settle disputes between music venues and new developments moving into all areas of the city. Today’s Council meeting will include a proposed ordinance change concerning…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 12, 2024
Health diagnostics ‘unicorn’ to bring more than 1,000 jobs to bolster Austin’s life sciences sector
The city is expected to see an influx of more than 1,000 life sciences jobs in the coming years, with a California-based molecular diagnostics company announcing a major move into Austin. BillionToOne broke ground Wednesday on a 220,000-square-foot facility expected…
Uncategorized • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 12, 2024
Hotels nearing agreement on tax plan to provide homelessness services funding
City leaders expect a long-in-coming new hotel tax that could provide money for homelessness services to be ready for final City Council approval within the month. On Monday, the Austin Business Journal reported that the proposed Tourism Public Improvement District…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 10, 2024
City provides updates on financial, anti-displacement efforts related to HOME initiatives
The city has started to make a series of moves intended to make it easier for middle- and low-income residents to build accessory dwelling units and generate new income from properties that are now able to host more housing. Last…
