Private groups raised and donated money to expand a skatepark in Libbytown, improve the small boat launch at the East End Beach and launch a new Youth Corps parks program for underserved youth.
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
Portland mayor’s proclamation accidentally opens old wounds
Mayor Kate Snyder, whose acknowledgement of Khojaly Remembrance Day inflamed longstanding tensions between Mainers with Armenian and Azerbaijani ties, says future proclamation requests will face more scrutiny.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Portland activists, tenants want to join lawsuit and defend rent control
People First Portland and the Foreside Tenant’s Union want to intervene in a lawsuit by the Southern Maine Landlord Association seeking to block implementation of a citizen initiative approved by voters in November.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Advocates urge Portland to reconsider needle exchange policy
The city allows clients to receive only the same number of clean needles as the used needles they turn in, unless they qualify for an exemption.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council revives proposal for Munjoy Hill Historic District
The City Council will take up the proposal again April 5, after the city’s staff can provide more information in response to councilors’ questions.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland is about to consider major changes to city government, and it could be historic
The city finds itself in another era of dissatisfaction and political tension, and some already are pushing for a partial return to the strong-mayor structure discarded a century ago.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Uncategorized
Portland committee recommends new department to promote racial equity
Mayor Kate Snyder and councilors appointed the commission following a series of Black Lives Matter demonstrations over the summer and will present an interim report to councilors on Monday.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland councilor wants to reconsider vote rejecting Munjoy Hill Historic District
City Councilor Andrew Zarro, who was one of five councilors who voted against the proposal, would like the council to take more time to address unanswered questions and revisit the issue on April 5.
Posted inLocal & State
Portland honors memory of city’s first Black elected office holder
Clifford ‘Kippy’ Richardson was a well-respected businessman who in 1971 became the first Black person elected to municipal office in Portland, serving on both the school board and City Council.
Posted inLocal & State, Local Elections, News, Politics
Advocates ask high court to force Portland to hold vote on clean elections
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments Thursday, after a lower court dismissed the lawsuit brought by Fair Elections Portland, which wants to create the state’s first public financing option for municipal candidates.