The Detroit City Council held a budget hearing for the Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity Department (CRIO) on March 18, 2026. Director Jay Mathis presented the department's FY27 budget and overview of its nine divisions, including civil rights, disability affairs, veterans affairs, cannabis, and the Detroit Business Opportunity Program. Councilmembers questioned enforcement mechanisms, budget reductions, minority business contracting, cannabis industry challenges, and language access. Multiple motions were passed to add items to executive session, and public commenters urged increased funding for language access and disability services.
A public hearing on the full budget will take place on March 30, 2026 at 5 p.m.
I see the members of Creole in the back. Y'all hiding. Come on down. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. There we go. Good afternoon. And Director Mathis. Welcome. This is your first budget hearing. Congratulations on your appointment. Please take the time to introduce your team, though some of them we already know, know very well and appreciate. Please introduce your team, and you can begin your budget present budget presentation when you're ready. Good afternoon, everyone. It's a privilege to be in front of this honorable body and President Tate for to present the FY27 budget for CRIO, the civil rights inclusion and opportunity department. I am Jay Mathis, the director of CRIO, and this is Megan Maslamani, my deputy director of CREO. So today I'll briefly walk through our department and the work of our nine divisions, all of which are centered on increasing access, accountability, inclusion, and opportunity for Detroit residents, businesses, and employees. Just our brief mission statement. Our work is grounded in a simple but important commitment to provide excellent service to all who live, work, play, and do business in the city of Detroit, while advocating for inclusion and increased opportunities that will result in a positive impact in our city. That statement reflects how we approach this work every day through service, responsiveness, and a keen focus on making the city systems more accessible and equitable. So within CREO, we have nine divisions. And those divisions are the Civil Rights Department, Disability Affairs, Policy, Data, Cannabis, the Cannabis Office Incentives and Compliance, Detroit Business Opportunity Program, also known as DBOP, and Veterans Affairs. I'll give you a brief summary of each division. So first we have our civil rights division, which is led by Cynthia Samuel Baker. And that division promotes equality, justice, by addressing discrimination in employment, American Disability Act, Housing, Education, and Puffes. It also manages workplace violence, harassment complaints, provides training, and enforces city codes. Its strategic focus includes enhancing staffing, improving complaint processes, strengthening case management, and supporting staff development, while ensuring civil rights resources are accessible and supportive, both for staff development and effective for both employees and the community. Our FY27 goal for the Civil Rights Department is to focus on modernizing Chapter 23, which we are currently working with the Office of Law to do and amend Chapter 23 and to have a fully staffed division. Our next department is the Detroit Business Opportunity Program, also known as DBOP, that is led by Cara Ivey. And DBOP aims to empower local businesses by certifying them and enhancing access to city contracting opportunities, fostering an inclusive business environment. Our outreach last year has engaged over 1,300 Detroit businesses and connects entrepreneurs with experts, city representatives, and resources. Our FY27 goals prioritize and include launching the micro bidding with the Office of Contracting and Procurement that we're currently working on, creating a certification audit framework, and expanding the Detroit Startup Program. Our next department is the Office of Disability Affairs and is led by Christopher Samp, which H which aims to empower the over 127,000 Detroit residents with disabilities through access, equity, and inclusion. It also connects residents to city departments, promotes education on disability issues, and fosters collaboration between the disability community and city government. In FY26, the office conducted over 110 engagements, and that reached over 7,000 people. Our FY27 goals include expanding the interpreter services, also adding Braille for the visually impaired, expanding our public engagement, improving constituent services. This includes procuring accessible outreach materials and work station in house and expanding services to include a mental health component. Our next division is the Office of Veterans Affairs, which is led by Quasi Bet Sarai. And that office is dedicated to supporting over the 22,000 veterans in Detroit, aligning with CREO's mission to address the needs of the underserved population. The division connects veterans' health, disability, education, and housing benefits, including assistance for unhoused veterans. It also promotes veteran achievements, collaborates with service organizations, and organized job fairs. This year, the office aided 30 veterans with uh veterans with federal benefit claims and helped five secure employment while actively participating in local veteran service initiatives. Next is the incentives and compliance division, which is led by Nikita Easley, which oversees the development projects related to the executive order 2024-2 and 2024-1, tax abatements, job commitments, the community benefit sorness agreements, ensuring commitments to the city and residents are met. The team works with city agencies and partners to promote compliance and transparency. Under that umbrella is also the construction outreach program, which is led by Renard Richman. In that capacity, he works on workforce development and works with the Skilled Trace Employee Program, also known as STEP. In FY26, that division conducted site visits, implemented compliance plans, and held community meetings. Additionally, the division supports construction outreach, and last year they engaged over 1,200 students across 15 schools to introduce them to careers in construction and skills trades. Next is the Office of Cannabis Affairs, which is led currently by Rodney Wilson, and it helps shape cannabis policy, regulations, and laws in a way that align with Detroit's vision for safe, healthy, family and business-friendly cannabis environments. The office supports responsible participation in the industry while working to reduce barriers and improve processes for Detroiters.