I’m Kanitha Matoury, Candidate for Oakland City Council District 2 for our Special Election on April 15th

The City Council Member for District 2 represents a diverse and dynamic area of Oakland, encompassing neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Eastlake, San Antonio, Rancho San Antonio, Bella Vista, Lynn, Highland Park, Highland Terrace, Cleveland Heights, Merritt, Peralta, Grand Lake, Lakeshore, Trestle Glen, and Crocker Highlands.

Kanitha Matoury has spent over 20 years serving the Oakland community as a small business owner, employer, and advocate. Over the years, her restaurant, Spice Monkey, has provided jobs to thousands of people and became a gathering space for neighbors, local leaders, artists, and city officials. Though the pandemic forced its closure, her resilience led her to continue serving the community through Howden Market, which remains open today.

Kanitha is a doer, not a complainer. When she has faced obstacles in her life that appeared insurmountable, she applied herself, focused on solutions and overcame the challenges.

Over the past months, Kanitha has met with thousands of residents, business owners, and community leaders across District 2, hearing firsthand the concerns and hopes for a safer, more vibrant, and more affordable Oakland. She understands that public safety, homelessness, and economic recovery are at the forefront of people's minds, and she’s committed to bringing real solutions not excuses to City Hall.

Her honesty, passion for uniting people, and deep understanding of Oakland’s challenges make her the leader District 2 needs. With Kanitha on the City Council, residents will have a representative who listens, takes action, and fights for a future where we can all be proud to say we love where we live.

Kanitha’s “Love Where You Live” initiative is a strong plan to restore public safety, revitalize local business, and clean up the streets of District 2—because when we love where we live, we protect it, invest in it, and ensure it succeeds.

This program will:

• Restore Public Safety: Increase police presence, expand community policing, and ensure our streets, parks, and neighborhoods are safe and welcoming for all residents.

• Revitalize Local Business: Create an environment where local businesses can succeed by streamlining permits, increasing funding access, and making commercial corridors vibrant and welcoming.

• Rebuild Our Community: Clean up encampments while expanding shelter and mental health services, end illegal dumping, and ensure Oakland’s streets, parks, and public spaces are safe.

When we love something, we take care of it. I promise to protect our neighborhoods, support our businesses, and lift up those in need. Together, we can restore Oakland and create a city where everyone truly loves where they live.

The special election for Oakland’s District 2 City Council seat will take place on April 15, 2025. All registered voters in District 2 are eligible to participate. Register to vote here. Check your registration status here. Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent out starting March 17, 2025. Early voting begins the same day at the Alameda County Registrar of Voters office (1225 Fallon Street, Room G-1, Oakland), with additional voting centers opening on April 5, 2025.

The special election on April 15, 2025, was scheduled following the resignation of Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, who was elected to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. To fill the resulting vacancies in both the mayor's office and the District 2 council seat, the City of Oakland has organized this special election.