Many in the city’s small army of waitstaff believe a proposal that would triple their hourly base salary would just eat into their gratuities.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Organizers appear to end insistence that Portland didn’t block medical pot fest
The group initially said the Aug. 9 event would go on despite denial of an amended permit amid concerns over an admission fee and public marijuana use.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland voters will take up $15 an hour minimum wage in November
The City Council also votes to delay reconsideration of an ordinance approved earlier this month that inadvertently doubled the base wage for tipped workers.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council rejects permit for marijuana market in Deering Oaks
In a 5-4 vote, they reverse a previous decision after hearing an ad for the event that suggested pot would be available for use there.
Posted inLifestyle, Local & State, News
Portland City Council to revisit pot festival permit request
The New England Cannabis Farmers Market would run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 9 in Deering Oaks.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland ready to cut assistance to 86 immigrants
Those affected may no longer have legal status because they failed to apply for asylum within a year of entering the United States.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine Gov. LePage endorses ‘great friend’ Chris Christie for president
The Republican governors tout their no-nonsense styles and greet diners at Becky’s Diner in Portland.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
LePage to fight Portland over asylum seekers money
The governor says a $2.6 million plan to provide help to them is ‘a shell game with taxpayer’s money.’
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Portland poised to continue General Assistance to asylum-seeking immigrants
But councilors appear split over how much aid to provide, who would qualify and how long it might continue at local taxpayers’ expense.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Portland faces decision on costly aid for asylum seekers
As a budget deal in Augusta eliminates public assistance for legal non-citizens who took refuge in Maine, the city must decide if its property taxpayers will foot the bill.