Preble Street’s plan calls for as many as 40 beds, 8 feet apart to comply with COVID-19 guidelines, with meals and other services on site.
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 inMaine, Uncategorized
Portland city councilor has COVID-19
City Councilor April Fournier said in a Facebook post that she tested positive and is experiencing symptoms, including body aches, a headache, fever, fatigue and a cough.
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Posted inMaine
Portland bets on co-ops to meet need for affordable housing
Over the last year, the City Council has partnered with two fledgling organizations to develop three city properties into housing cooperatives, which are owned and managed by residents, not a landlord.
Posted inMaine, News, Uncategorized
Portland council gives top city attorney retroactive raise
The City Council awarded attorney Danielle West-Chuhta, whose official title is corporation counsel, retroactive raises of 3 percent for 2019 to 2020, raising her salary to $148,473 a year.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News
Maine says uncertainty around shipments is hampering vaccine rollout
The state delays its plans to vaccinate residents of assisted-living facilities after learning it won’t receive as many doses next week as it expected.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland’s racial equity panel will hold first public hearing next week
The group will hold its first session at 5 p.m. Thursday to solicit feedback about ‘the ways that the city interacts with the area agencies and organizations in the name of public safety.’
Posted inMaine
Three deputy fire chiefs in Portland disciplined for not enforcing mask mandates
Fire Chief Keith Gautreau, who was photographed without a mask in a firehouse, conceded that ‘we could all do better with this and we should be’ and ‘it starts at the top.’
Posted inMaine, News
Portland’s plan for a temporary homeless shelter falls through
City Manager Jon Jennings says the city is working with the state to secure more hotel rooms, including at a hotel near the jetport, to ensure that anyone seeking shelter has a place to stay this winter.
Posted inMaine
Eleven Portland firefighters exposed to COVID-19
Fire Chief Keith Gautreau says city officials determined that none of the 11 firefighters working at the Bramhall Station on Nov. 30 was following the city mandate that face masks be worn inside firehouses.
Posted inMaine, News
City Council welcomes new members as Portland faces historic challenges
At-large Councilor April Fournier is sworn in as the first indigenous member of the council, along with Andrew Zarro in District 4 and Mark Dion in District 5.