A tight supply of rental housing, especially for lower-income tenants, continues to fuel calls for tenant protections and affordable housing development.
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, News
Mayor calls for more protections for tenants during State of the City address
Ethan Strimling avoids talking about the political tensions that have roiled City Hall, stressing the previous year’s successes and proposing a range of policy and spending initiatives.
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Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Portland’s jobs-for-panhandlers venture has earned its keep
The pilot program has ended, but city officials say if funding can be found they’ll start an expanded version based on success stories like Katie and Trish Farr’s.
Posted inMaine, News
Munjoy Hill performance hall before city for final approval
If the Portland Planning Board approves the project Tuesday, the Friends of the St. Lawrence Church will be able to turn its attention to fundraising.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland still struggling to honor M.L. King Jr. after years of failed efforts
Multiple attempts since 2008 have fizzled – partly because of the difficulty of adequately honoring the civil rights leader’s achievements – but the city hopes to take up recommendations this year.
Posted inMaine, News, Schools and Education
Sanford officials investigate videotaped clash between student, teacher
The superintendent says he would ‘never condone’ the remarks made by the substitute teacher at Sanford Regional Technical Center.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland landlord hit with $500,000 in fines for multiple violations in 5-unit building
A judge imposes the unusually large fines based on longstanding violations, including a lack of smoke detectors and obstructed exits.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland pondering ‘necessary evil’ of property revaluation
Should the council go there, a third of the city’s real estate owners could see higher taxes, and the impact would likely be most felt on Munjoy Hill.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland’s tough new ban on synthetic pesticides allows few exceptions
Hadlock Field, Riverside Golf Course and 5 athletic field will be the only exempt properties when the ordinance takes effect July 1, 2019.
Posted inMaine, News
Woman hit by vehicle recovering from injuries, Portland police say
The driver is not currently facing any charges in the incident Saturday night on Forest Avenue.