District 4 Councilor Justin Costa is running against political newcomers April Fournier, Ronald Gan and Laura Kelley.
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 Elections, Maine, News, Politics
Group launches campaign against 3 ballot questions in Portland
The Building a Better Portland political action committee says the measures to promote a green new deal and tenants’ rights would backfire and threaten the creation of affordable housing in the city.
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Posted inMaine, News
Portland’s new racial equity panel gets to work on policy review
The Racial Equity Steering Committee begins an examination of public safety, community partnerships and other policies that disproportionately affect people of color in Maine’s largest city.
Posted inMaine
What’s that structure going up next to Back Cove?
It’s not a hotel or condominium. It’s a temporary part of a project that will reduce the amount of raw sewage and polluted stormwater runoff being discharged into the cove.
Posted inMaine, Uncategorized
Portland councilors approve budget that includes layoffs
Portland city councilors put the finishing touches on a city budget that would leave property taxes unchanged.
Posted inMaine
Portland councilors to vote on city budget that cuts 65 positions
Budgets for police and health and human services have undergone the most scrutiny this year, because of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland and South Portland release ambitious climate action plan
The cities plan to work together on regional strategies to reduce carbon emissions from buildings and eliminate virtually all waste in the next 30 years.
Posted inMaine, Politics
How to win an election during a pandemic: Candidates for local offices get creative
Many of the honored traditions of handshakes, door-knocking and group events carry a risk of transmitting coronavirus.
Posted inMaine
Protesters gather to condemn racism, police violence: ‘I need to be able to tell my children I did something’
The threat of violence by detractors leads Black Lives Matter Maine to postpone its demonstration in downtown Portland, but more than 100 people turn out Saturday, issuing a fiery call for change.
Posted inMaine
Portland ballot will only summarize 6 citizen referendums
However, the city will also send the full ordinance proposals to residents who request absentee ballots; others can see them at the polls.