A spokeswoman says the city welcomes micro homes if they’re properly zoned and permitted, but Brent Adler says ‘temporary living quarters’ on wheels don’t have to meet municipal building codes.
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
Interpretive dancer pretends to vomit, among other things, at Portland council meeting
A man being appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals became an unwitting prop in Sara Juli’s performance of an excerpt from ‘Shadow Artist.’
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland councilors approve West Commercial Street Trail
The 10-foot-wide bike and pedestrian trail will leave the city just one link short of its goal of having a continuous trail around the peninsula
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council set to vote on key step in advancing peninsula trail
If a deal with the Maine DOT is approved, construction of a western waterfront section would start in 2018, leaving one last segment to finish the full path.
Posted inLocal & State, News
To Portland panhandlers, program may offer welcome change: Jobs
Using Albuquerque as a model, Portland would pay $10.68 per hour to those willing and able to work.
Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State, News
Attorneys clash as landlord in deadly Portland fire seeks new trial
Testimony conflicts over whether the defense was given an item of evidence before the conviction of Gregory Nisbet, who has been sentenced to three months in jail for a code violation.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Stunning view from Munjoy Hill park gets new protection
A developer says he will continue with plans for a condo project, but will reduce its height to adhere to new zoning restrictions.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland, South Portland approve plans to put solar farms on closed landfills
Partnering with ReVision Energy, the cities expect to use fewer fossil fuels and save thousands, but that’s not guaranteed.
Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State, News
Protesters disrupt ceremony honoring Portland police chief
Activists chanting ‘black lives matter’ disrupt the ceremony shortly after city councilors voice support for Chief Michael Sauschuck and his approach to equipping officers with body cameras.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Would Portland, South Portland solar farms turn a profit? Maybe not, analysis says
But leaders from both communities downplay the likelihood that the worst-case scenario would play out and say that solar farms are likely to break even or be profitable.