Ciatta means ‘I am free. Don’t hold me back.’

Ciatta, a New York native, is a progressive with a common sense approach. Her Liberian mother and New York native father, instilled a passion for politics and dissecting complex issues. Both of them grew up poor and taught Ciatta the value of hard work, dedication and commitment.

After the tragic death of her father, Ciatta’s passion lingered. She continued her curiosity by hopping to cities around the country to explore various cultures on the East Coast and Midwest.

Studying at Florida Atlantic University led Ciatta to develop her expertise in urban planning. Several building departments in South Florida struggled with climate change issues such as flooding, sand erosion, and hurricane effects. Ciatta collaborated with a team to solve these issues while exploring new ones. She frequently participated in official political discussions regarding the economy's growth, ensuring public safety, and expanding into the Everglades to manage the results of climate change.

As a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns, her political focus shifted. Despite everyone being stuck at home and dealing with the awful effects of the pandemic, she yearned for involvement. Consequently, she supported a friend's run for mayor in Wilton Manors, Florida, and became the public relations coordinator with the organization Black Lives Now. During the protests in Broward County, Ciatta hosted several Zoom roundtables with candidates for sheriff, district attorney, and public defender. The first session was attended by National Democratic leadership, sparking a robust conversation about the state of the justice system, driven by the death of George Floyd.

Ciatta had been visiting the city of Portland periodically throughout the past decade. At the end of 2020, she decided to relocate. Taking her first drive along the 205, she was struck by the sight of numerous tents scattered across the knolls. As she entered the city, she sensed a general unease. Little did she know, she would soon encounter the homelessness crisis up close and personal after securing a job at a downtown hotel. Both she and her coworkers often felt unsafe amid the situation. Despite stringent security measures at the hotel, their fear persisted. This led her to contemplate the oppressive environment, marked by the absence of police and the abundance of boarded-up businesses. She felt that city and county leaders avoided addressing the root issues, causing Portland to become a hotbed of political mismanagement.

Ciatta will use her voice to advocate for transparency and accountability and, most importantly, to lead citizens toward personal empowerment. Her history of effective leadership and passion has led her to develop a clear vision for Portland. Her determination and strong willpower ensure she will accomplish her goals.

Ciatta advocates for total funding of Portland Street Response. Neighbors needing support will be connected with wraparound services, while ensuring that those who break the law will face legal consequences. Empowering people experiencing homelessness and drug users, who are often stripped of their agency, will be a top priority.

As her mother says, we must teach people to fish.

Her primary focus will be creating safer neighborhoods by calling for increased mental health facilities, implementing effective drug treatment plans, and developing job programs.

Ciatta aims to strike a balance in regulations, simplify the permitting process, and provide incentives for local developers to construct workforce housing. Collaborating with commercial property owners will help our city create strategies to attract top-tier employees and support small businesses. Additionally, Ciatta sees the opportunity to establish the south waterfront as a cutting edge medical district and would like to explore the prospect further.

Ciatta’s goal for Portland is to become a model city for innovation, sustainability, public transportation, infrastructure, and economic reinvigoration.

The public's trust in our government officials has been significantly eroded. If you are seeking someone to restore this trust, look no further. Ciatta is committed to working for you and will take a straightforward approach.

With Ciatta, tasks will be accomplished. We envision Portland as the flourishing "Rose City" on the rise.

Distinctions and Honorable Mentions