Randy Billings

Portland Press Herald

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.

Latest

Published
June 10, 2019

Portland committee to grapple with unregistered short-term rentals

Warnings have been issued to nearly 145 property owners who have not registered their short-term rentals.
Published
June 9, 2019

Crowds revel in the 46th and final Old Port Fest (or is it?)

A group of local business owners gathers signatures in hopes of persuading Portland Downtown to keep the Old Port tradition alive.
Published
June 7, 2019

Portland councilors held 2 illegal meetings before considering shelter

Without notifying the public, a quorum of the Portland City Council attended 2 site walks this spring related to its decision about the future of the city’s homeless shelter.
Published
June 6, 2019

State removes parcel near jail from potential land swap with Portland

City officials were considering the 10-acre County Way property for a new police station or a homeless shelter.
Published
June 4, 2019

Portland council delays votes on working waterfront protections

The changes are aimed at protecting the water-dependent economy and averting a citizen’s referendum.
Published
June 3, 2019

Residents raise objections to both of Portland’s proposed shelter sites

The City Council is expected to vote on a location for a new 150-bed shelter at its next meeting.
Published
June 3, 2019

Homeless Portlanders worry new shelter will be far from downtown

City councilors on Monday will hold another public hearing about where to build a new 150-bed homeless service center.
Published
June 1, 2019

Social services director’s firing part of larger turnover in Portland City Hall

With a few notable exceptions, other city employees appear to have left their city jobs for other job opportunities.
Published
May 30, 2019

Portland wants gamers gone from Evergreen Cemetery

City officials are asking the gamemaker to remove the coveted Pokemon Go icons sought by players.
Published
May 29, 2019

Portland has fired its social services director, and the reasons are in dispute

The city cites David MacLean’s ‘concerning’ lack of knowledge about managing the $11.9 million social services budget, but his attorney says his client was fired for raising concerns about plans to build a new 150-bed homeless shelter.