Portland’s human resources director criticizes comments by Mayor Ethan Strimling welcoming the arrival of more immigrants.
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 inBusiness, Local & State, News
Developers’ plans would transform part of downtown Portland
Projects proposed by North River IV and J.B. Brown & Sons just west of the Old Port would convert 3 parking lots into apartments, offices, a hotel and retail stores with parking garages.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council considers social services for non-citizens, homeless
A budget proposed by the city manager has prompted discussion about city resources devoted to 2 programs that provide shelter and aid to the groups.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Uncategorized
Plan would ban new restaurants and retail stores on Portland piers
The zoning amendments are being proposed to address concerns raised by fishermen and advocates that a construction boom of hotels and other tourist uses is threatening the future of the working waterfront.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Portland council violates city codes by approving liquor license for Rising Tide brewery
The new license, which allows the brewery on Fox Street to have a full-service bar, passed on a 5-2 vote after the city attorney told councilors they were on ‘a slippery slope.’
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland firefighters trying to rescue Munjoy Hill station’s Engine 1
The city budget proposed for the year starting July 1 would shut down the truck and reassign firefighters, leaving a ladder truck and an ambulance on Munjoy Hill.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland allocates $45,000 in private donations to aid asylum seekers
City Manager Jon Jennings has proposed phasing out the Community Support Fund, which was created in 2015 in response to state budget cuts.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Uncategorized
Office building proposed in Portland’s India Street neighborhood
The $7 million project at 170 Fore St. is the third project of four proposals for a block that only a few years ago was largely undeveloped.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Efforts by Portland, state navigate path out of chronic homelessness
The so-called ‘housing first’ approach creates stability and takes pressure off shelters, but so far, the suburbs aren’t buying into it.
Posted inLocal & State, News
What is ‘housing first’?
‘We really feel housing is itself therapeutic,’ says Preble Street’s Hillary Colcord, the director of Huston Commons.