The move may relieve pressure on local businesses to pay higher wages under a citizen initiative that is being challenged in court after being approved last fall.
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, Maine
Iconic Portland building that housed Brian Boru pub may face the wrecking ball
The mutual insurance company MEMIC bought the property in 2019 and is now seeking city permits to demolish it.
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Posted inLocal Elections, Maine, News, Politics
Newly elected charter commissioner criticized for tweets calling city manager ‘white supremacist’
After being criticized for her initial tweet, Nasreen Sheikh-Yousef amplified her accusation in a subsequent post.
Posted inLocal Elections, Maine, News, Politics
Political momentum and ranked-choice runoffs put reform candidates in charge of Portland charter review
Progressive candidates secured a solid majority on the Charter Commission using ranked-choice voting and an energized political base in an off-year election.
Posted inLocal Elections, Maine, News, Politics
Voters elect progressive slate to Portland Charter Commission
The four at-large races were decided by four separate ranked-choice runoffs, a process that upended preliminary totals based on voters’ first choices.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland council approves shelter moratorium in Bayside
The moratorium is intended to give the council time to finish drafting a new annual licensing program for emergency shelters in the city. It does not affect existing shelters or services.
Posted inMaine, Uncategorized
Portland adopts $212 million city budget, restoring some pandemic cuts
The approval came the night before voters head to the polls to vote on the Board of Public Education’s $125.5 million budget.
Posted inMaine
Portland’s economic development director steps down after decade of rapid change
Greg Mitchell, 61, ‘got in on the ground floor’ as the city underwent a major transformation.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Luxury hotel, rooftop bar planned for Portland’s iconic Time & Temperature building
T.T. Maine Ventures proposes 186 hotel rooms, a rooftop bar, meeting and banquet spaces, retail shops and a restaurant at 477 Congress St.
Posted inLocal Elections, Maine, News, Politics
Outside group’s negative tactics shake up Portland’s charter commission race
Even some candidates supported by People First Charter have taken to social media and written newspaper columns to distance themselves from the group before the vote June 8.