The City Council will be asked to vote Monday on the proposal, calling for $1.35 an hour more than a council committee has recommended.
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, 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.
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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
Vote to aid asylum seekers puts Portland in rare company
The unusual, possibly unprecedented allocation of $2.6 million defies Maine’s interpretation of federal law.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council votes to continue General Assistance for asylum seekers
The 5-4 vote means the city will continue providing the aid for at least a year despite a cut in state funding.
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 inBusiness, Local & State, News
‘Midtown’ revisions have developer at odds with Portland officials
The city says that the Federated Cos.’ option to buy land has expired, and that housing, not hotels, is the priority.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Reactions mixed among Portland taxpayers on aid for asylum seekers
At issue is whether the city will continue to make up for the state’s withholding of General Assistance to about 900 people.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Portland threatened with lawsuit over latest ‘midtown’ project demands
The developer objects after being told the purchase agreement for city-owned property earmarked for the project has expired.
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.