Recommendations from the Commission to Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions include eliminating single-family zoning, allowing in-law apartments as a matter of right and removing municipal growth caps.
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, Politics
Sara Gideon donates $3.5 million in leftover campaign cash to help low-income families
The money, from her unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate, will go to the nonprofit Maine Equal Justice, which provides financial assistance to low-income parents earning degrees and professional certifications.
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Posted inHealth, Maine
State will use federal funds to give bonuses to direct care workers
The federal government has approved Maine’s request to use $126 million in American Recovery Act funding to give bonuses to new and existing workers providing home- and community-based health services.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Economic growth, federal funds drive increase in state revenues
Gov. Mills says she will propose using some of the added revenue to help Mainers struggling with increased costs of electricity, home heating fuels, gas at the pump, and other necessities.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
What’s next for the more progressive Portland City Council?
With progressives soon to have a two-thirds majority, proposals such as universal basic income and participatory budgeting, where neighborhoods make some of their own spending decisions, could gain traction.
Posted inMaine, News
New council will reconsider approval of Portland’s shelter licensing program
City Councilor Pious Ali made the request to reconsider the decision after the measure passed Monday on a 7-1 vote.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland approves licensing program for emergency shelters
The proposal adopted Monday would require regular neighborhood meetings between service providers and residents and limit the number of shelter beds in any given neighborhood.
Posted inElections, Maine, Politics
Portland looking into vote discrepancy in close city council race
Officials hope to explain why 36 more votes were recorded on election night than during a hand recount that resulted in Roberto Rodriguez defeating Brandon Mazer.
Posted inMaine
Maine reports 799 new COVID-19 cases, 10 more deaths
Since the pandemic began, there have been 111,145 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in Maine and 1,230 people have died with the virus.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Portland soon could join move to ban flavored tobacco products
Portland would follow Bangor, which last month became the first Maine community to enact such a ban.