How Code Enforcement Fuels Displacement in San Antonio
San Antonio officials say demolition orders are a tool of last resort—yet issue them far more often than every other major city in the state combined.
Michael Barajas
Michael Barajas is a staff writer covering civil rights for the Texas Observer. Before joining the Observer, he was editor of the San Antonio Current and managing editor of the Houston Press. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
Articles by Michael Barajas
Justice Department Enters Fray, But Only Congress Can Fix Racist Gerrymandering in Texas
A new lawsuit adds federal weight and resources to an increasingly uphill battle for fair maps.
The Consequences of Redistricting Without A Safety Net
Judicial blindness to racist election laws has removed critical safeguards for minority voters and emboldened the latest round of GOP gerrymandering in Texas.
Rodney Reed and Texas’ Troubling Reliance on the Death Penalty
A court ruling this week sets up yet another high profile showdown over Texas’ use of the ultimate punishment.
‘The People’s Lawyer’
Civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt, who represented George Floyd’s family, on running for Texas attorney general and ending “comply or die” policing.
Locked Up and Left to Die
In Texas, dying in jail is “par for the course.”
Promoting Equity
Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, San Antonio’s first openly gay council member, wants a local civil rights office to investigate the kind of discrimination he faced as a city staffer.
A Wrongful Execution in Texas Points to the Fallibility of the Death Penalty
A new documentary, The Phantom, explores the case of Carlos DeLuna and bolsters the disturbingly convincing case that Texas executed the wrong man.
With a Special Session on Voting Restrictions Looming, Texas Dems Push for Federal Protections
Voting rights advocates say Texas Republicans’ underhanded effort to ram through new voter suppression measures highlights the need to restore federal voting rights legislation.
Yet Again, Texas Lawmakers Face Crisis Conditions in Texas Prisons
Texas lawmakers are confronted with a bleak picture of life inside Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities every two years. Will they act this year?