Many of the honored traditions of handshakes, door-knocking and group events carry a risk of transmitting coronavirus.
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
Portland ballot will only summarize 6 citizen referendums
However, the city will also send the full ordinance proposals to residents who request absentee ballots; others can see them at the polls.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Protesters raise awareness about potential flood of evictions in Maine
About 20 people gathered in downtown Portland to urge action to avoid a wave of evictions that could put thousands of Mainers on the streets as winter approaches.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
Lawsuit challenges access to prized piece of Portland’s working waterfront
Attorney Glenn Israel, who represents Soley Wharf, says the aim is to allow the owners to enforce parking and gear storage rules.
Posted inLocal & State
New proposal could be Portland’s tallest building and add 260 apartments downtown
Rents for most units are projected to range from $1,200 to $2,000, while 27 would be deed-restricted as workforce housing with rents affordable to median income tenants.
Posted inLocal & State
Debate heats up over public health versus police spending in Portland
Over the past decade, spending on police has increased by nearly 40%, while the public health budget has dropped by more than 50%. But city officials say those numbers don’t reflect additional investments in social services.
Posted inLocal & State, Uncategorized
Portland councilors approve $14 million in low-income housing incentives
Most of the units will be restricted to households making less than 60 percent of area median income.
Posted inLocal & State
Portland officials try to help City Hall campers get shelter as storm bears down
The remnants of a hurricane highlight the need to address the encampment at City Hall, which has grown since a few people first pitched tents last month.
Posted inLocal & State
Portland homeless encampment elicits sympathy, frustration
Some taxpayers say it shouldn’t be up to Portland alone to provide services for people in need, while others see the desperation of those living on the street as a failure of local leadership.
Posted inLocal & State
Cody Taylor: Had early experience with homelessness
‘I will be supporting these people until we get these demands met.’