City staff spent months reaching out to social service partners, churches and private shelters, unsuccessfully seeking a downtown location for this winter. Now, the city finds itself left with a spot that officials, advocates and homeless people all agree is not ideal.
portland city government
Posted inFact Brief, Local & State, News
Did Portland ban the sale of menthol tobacco? | Fact brief
A statewide effort to ban all flavored tobacco products across Maine stalled in the Legislature last year.
advertisement
Posted inCops & Courts, Local & State, News, Schools and Education
Chellie Pingree, Portland leaders pressure ICE to share details on arrest outside school
Immigration officers’ refusal to identify themselves while detaining a parent during student drop-off at Gerald E. Talbot Community School last week has led to a growing chorus of calls for transparency from federal agents.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Mark Dion sworn in as mayor; new councilors also take office in Portland
Dion was sworn in Monday night along with new Councilors Anna Bullett and Kate Sykes, and Councilor April Fournier, who was reelected to her at-large seat.
Posted inMaine Voices, Opinion
Maine Voices: Portland needs to admit that it has an addiction problem
Before homeless Mainers will accept other services, more treatment centers, recovery facilities and transitional housing will be needed.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Portland mayoral hopefuls debate homelessness, climate change
Much of the debate between Pious Ali, Justin Costa, Mark Dion, Dylan Pugh and Andrew Zarro focused on the homeless encampments that the city has struggled to manage.
Posted inOp-eds, Opinion
Commentary: Adding more beds to Riverton homeless shelters is the wrong way to go
If creating limited states of emergency and relaxing codes are on the table, it must be for the entire city of Portland, giving extraordinary opportunities for out-of-the-box solutions.
Posted inOp-eds, Opinion
Commentary: Adding shelter capacity in Riverton isn’t a fix for Portland’s encampment crisis
If creating limited states of emergency and relaxing codes are on the table, it must be for the entire city, giving opportunities for out-of-the-box solutions.
Posted inOp-eds, Opinion
Commentary: Repurposing land is necessary for Portland’s survival
By consolidating various business and industrial zones into a new, inclusive district, we can unlock the full potential of available land for housing expansion.
Posted inOp-eds, Opinion
Commentary: The city of Portland needs to answer our questions regarding homeless encampments
Portland is at a tipping point, and many are concerned that it is following the path of other cities that are overwhelmed by open-door policies.