Kenzie Smith is running for Oakland City Council District 2 to bring unity to our community and put in the work to implement solutions to the many problems we have in Oakland. Some of the issues Smith is looking to work on is providing programs for homeless, housing affordability, jobs for youth and preserve the beauty of our parks while maintaining access to all community members to enjoy.

Smith is a grassroots candidate who works directly with people in the community. He is a well connected Bay Area California native who has lived many years in Oakland. He is well known for being one of the men targeted for barbecuing in Lake Merritt park with charcoal and had the police called on him, as seen in a viral video dubbed #BBQBecky.

After the video went viral, Smith was endorsed by Oakland Council member Rebecca Kaplan to join the Parks and Rec commission. Smith took the opportunity to learn as much as he could about the position while helping a homeless man who was a target in another viral video dubbed #joggerjoe. Smith worked quickly with community members to gather new belongings for the homeless man who had his bedding and belongings thrown into the lake and trash by a jogger. Smith is still trying to find a suitable housing solution for the homeless man but has also learned that homeless issues are not easy to fix, especially when there are little to no programs in place.