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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PublishedJuly 15, 2018
A Portland neighborhood asks: Why build city shelter here?
Worried about the raft of trouble they see downtown, residents of Nason’s Corner are angry over plans for a new 200-bed homeless facility there.
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PublishedJuly 12, 2018
Mayor and councilor pushing to give non-citizens the right to vote in Portland
The proposal calls for letting legal residents participate in municipal elections, but it faces legal and other hurdles.
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PublishedJuly 7, 2018
Man injured when explosion sets boat afire in Casco Bay
The incident occurred Saturday night off Chebeague Island, the Coast Guard says.
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PublishedJuly 5, 2018
Hostile crowd criticizes Portland proposal to build emergency shelter at Barron Center
Critics at a meeting Thursday say they fear an influx of drug use and other problems that now plague the Bayside neighborhood near existing city services.
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PublishedJuly 5, 2018
In City Hall realignment, Portland police chief to become assistant city manager
After two decades with the department, Michael Sauschuck will retire from the force July 20 and take on a city role focused on external relations, especially at the State House.
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PublishedJuly 3, 2018
Flurry of shootings and stabbings adds to fears for Bayside residents
Neighborhood residents say the amount of violence in a short period is unusual but still intensifies their safety concerns. Portland police say they are moving to address the problems.
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PublishedJuly 2, 2018
Portland proposes $5,000-a-room fee for new hotels to address affordable housing shortage
Officials say the fee is needed because hotels are very profitable, yet rely on low-wage workers, who often can’t afford to live near work.
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PublishedJune 30, 2018
Portland Planning Board gets ball rolling on Commercial Street hotel, condo project
The panel backs the first stage of Hobson’s Landing, featuring 89 housing units, plus a 157-room hotel.
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PublishedJune 15, 2018
Sen. King says U.S. should stop separating families and instead help efforts like Portland’s
The senator tours shelters in the Bayside neighborhood, and says federal support for such efforts is humane and less costly in the long run than the Trump administration policy.
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PublishedJune 15, 2018
Homeless families fuel record use of Portland’s emergency shelters
An average of 520 people stayed overnight in March and April, with much of the increase attributed to immigrants seeking political asylum.
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