Public Policy Strategist | Campaign Architect | Nonprofit Executive | Media Commentator | Former First Deputy Public Advocate of NYC

Nick E. Smith is a nationally recognized public policy leader,  campaign strategist, nonprofit executive, and media commentator with over 15 years of experience advancing justice system reform, housing equity, and civic engagement at the city, state, and national levels. 

A trusted voice in both politics and governance, Nick brings a unique blend of campaign acumen, policy expertise, and communications insight to every arena he operates in.

From 2019 to 2024, Nick served as First Deputy Public Advocate for the City of New York, helping lead one of the city’s highest-ranking elected offices. He oversaw the agency’s legislative, policy, communications, and community engagement divisions—representing the Public Advocate in citywide, state, and federal matters. His leadership shaped key initiatives on tenant rights, land use reform, public safety, education equity, and mental health, establishing him as a leading voice in urban public policy.

As a senior campaign strategist, Nick has guided citywide and statewide political campaigns focused on progressive governance, coalition-building, and voter mobilization. His work has spanned campaign management, message development, and strategic communications, helping translate complex policy goals into winning narratives and actionable platforms.

Before his citywide appointment, Nick served as a Legislative Representative in the de Blasio Administration, negotiating more than 200 pieces of legislation and advising senior officials on budget and policy strategy. He led negotiations for the landmark law that made all phone calls free for people incarcerated on Rikers Island, setting a national precedent for equity-driven reform. Earlier in his career, he was Deputy Chief of Staff and Budget Director in the City Council, where he helped launch the National Network to Combat Gun Violence (nncgv.org)—a national alliance of policymakers and advocates working to address the root causes of gun violence.

In the nonprofit sector, Nick served as Executive Director of Communities Resist, a Brooklyn-based housing justice organization providing legal representation and advocacy for low-income tenants. His leadership advanced tenant protections, eviction prevention, and equitable development, building stronger partnerships between community-based groups and city institutions.

Nick began his public service career in Berkeley, California, where he was appointed Commissioner, chairing the Commission on Labor and serving on the Housing Advisory Commission to advise the City Council on housing and tenant-landlord policy.

A graduate of St. John’s University School of Law and the University of California, Berkeley, Nick continues to appear as a media commentator on governance, campaigns, and social policy—bringing an insider’s perspective to the strategies, stories, and systems that shape public life.