The move comes 3 weeks after former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh rescinded a similar proclamation that stirred tensions rooted in a historical conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
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 inBusiness, Maine, News
Restaurants’ complaints lead Portland to look at regulating food delivery services
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Posted inArts & Entertainment, Maine
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.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Portland approves 171-unit apartment building, with more in pipeline
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Posted inMaine, News
New plan rekindles effort to create park on Portland’s harborfront
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Posted inMaine, New England, News
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.
Posted inMaine, News
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.
Posted inMaine
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.
Posted inMaine, News
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.
Posted inMaine
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.