Hugh Forrest, a longtime leader and recent president of South by Southwest, is no longer with the organization, marking a major change for one of Austin’s most economically significant and internationally known events. Forrest confirmed his departure late last week, saying it was not his decision. Forrest’s exit is reportedly part of a broader round […]
Chad Swiatecki
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.
Posted inPolice
Police oversight report shows progress in 2023 data
The Office of Police Oversight received more than 1,500 public contacts in 2023, forwarding 578 complaints to the Austin Police Department and recommending 215 for investigation, according to the agency’s newly released annual report. Of those, APD investigated 138 cases and sustained policy violations in 11, resulting in eight oral reprimands and six written reprimands. […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin Municipal Court receives sixth consecutive traffic safety award
The Austin Municipal Court received a Texas Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Traffic Safety Award this month in the “high-volume” category, which recognizes municipal courts serving more than 150,000 residents. The award, presented by the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center (TMCEC), marks the sixth consecutive year the court has been selected for the honor. The court […]
Posted inWhispers
Transportation department reports on safety and funding
Austin’s Transportation and Public Works Department secured more than $230 million in federal grants during its first full year of operation in 2024, according to a new report. The department completed nearly 57 miles of sidewalks and urban trails, reduced high-risk speeding through the Barton Springs Road safety pilot, and installed new bikeways and traffic […]
Posted inPlanning
Panelists look at the airport’s future of ‘perpetual’ construction
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is expected to remain in a near-perpetual state of construction for the next several decades, as city officials and regional leaders prepare for sustained, long-term growth in air travel demand and economic activity across the Central Texas region. That projection, shared during a recent Urban Land Institute of Austin panel, helped the […]
Posted inWhispers
City offering $2.2 million in contracts to prevent homelessness
The City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) has announced a $2.2 million funding opportunity aimed at preventing homelessness among at-risk individuals and families. The initiative seeks to provide rental assistance, financial support, and other services to help households maintain stable housing and avoid entering the homelessness response system. The funding aims to make […]
Posted inCity Council
Council looks to expand AI policies, examine energy and water needs for data centers
Later this week, City Council will consider a substantial expansion of the city’s artificial intelligence oversight, incorporating detailed guidance on workforce protections, public transparency, and the environmental impacts of growing AI infrastructure. The resolution on Thursday’s agenda builds on a policy passed in February 2024, but goes further by requiring audits, defining acceptable AI uses, […]
Posted inCity Hall
Animal Center gets interim leaders to help with five-year improvement plan
The city is moving forward with new leadership at Austin Animal Center, following a memo from city manager T.C. Broadnax announcing the appointment of an interim leadership team. As of last week, Rolando Fernandez took over as interim chief animal services officer, bringing nearly two decades of city government experience to the role. Melissa Pool […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning staff spells out steps for preservation and coordination in 78702 and beyond
The city is preparing to move forward with a long-term planning effort that would coordinate public and cultural investments in a portion of East Austin seen as under threat of gentrification and other growth pressures. A new memo from the Planning Department issued last week responds to a 2024 City Council resolution directing staff to […]
Posted inAustin
Downtown Commission looks at partnerships, philanthropy to address homelessness
The city is establishing new partnerships with homelessness relief organizations and could announce new philanthropic partners later this month, while continuing to improve programs already in place to address the needs of the area’s growing homeless population. The most recent meeting of the Downtown Commission featured a presentation from the Homeless Strategy Office that highlighted […]
Posted inHousing
City eyes strategy shifts to address affordable housing shortfalls
City staff members are evaluating the idea of investing more in housing as well as other strategies to address shortfalls in key areas of the Strategic Housing Blueprint, including deeply affordable housing and permanent supportive housing. A memo released this week looks at progress related to the 2023 Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint Scorecard and shows […]
Posted inAustin
Fed spending cuts delay city’s workforce, infrastructure training plans
City staff are seeking additional time to develop a comprehensive plan for funding and implementing the city’s workforce development program, in part due to federal funding delays and broader budget uncertainties. A recent memo to City Council from the city’s Economic Development Department notes that efforts to secure federal funds for that purpose have been […]