Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been covering Portland City Hall for the Press Herald since 2012. His beat touches on a wide range of topics, including immigration, homelessness, education, tourism, real estate development and the economy in Maine’s largest city. He has been a Portland-based journalist since 2005. A life-long Mainer who loves the outdoors, Randy is also a bassist who brews his own beer at his North Yarmouth home, where he lives with his wife and two children.
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PublishedMarch 30, 2021
Restaurants’ complaints lead Portland to look at regulating food delivery services
Two city councilors are drafting a proposal to require third-party food delivery services to have a formal agreement with the restaurants before offering delivery.
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PublishedMarch 29, 2021
Portland public art gets a fresh look through social justice lens
The city’s public art collection will be reviewed to make sure it reflects cultural and racial diversity and social justice, a process known as decolonizing.
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PublishedMarch 24, 2021
Portland approves 171-unit apartment building, with more in pipeline
The largest apartment project approved by the city since 2014 could be under construction by this fall, promising much-needed housing.
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PublishedMarch 23, 2021
New plan rekindles effort to create park on Portland’s harborfront
The city is receiving pro bono assistance from a team of community leaders who share the vision for public open space on the eastern waterfront.
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PublishedMarch 12, 2021
Boston mayor apologizes for proclamation like one that stirred anger in Portland
Both Mayor Martin Walsh and Portland Mayor Kate Snyder have apologized, saying proclamations that inflamed tensions between Armenian and Azeri communities had not been sufficiently vetted.
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PublishedMarch 8, 2021
Portland rent board takes shape as lawsuit threatens to derail it
The board’s seven members, once confirmed by the council, will oversee the city’s new rent control rules and renter protections, which are also being challenged in court.
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PublishedFebruary 8, 2021
More renters seek help as relief program struggles to keep up
The state reports there are 2,000 rent relief applications filed before Dec. 31 still being processed, and renters say they are running out of savings.
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PublishedJanuary 22, 2021
Portland stands by strict rules for needle exchange despite warnings of higher risk
The city’s health and human services director says the program has maintained access to clean syringes without relaxing its exchange rules, but public health experts say the more restrictive approach can put people at risk during the pandemic.
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PublishedDecember 28, 2020
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.
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PublishedDecember 18, 2020
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.
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