On Tuesday, December 6, six mayoral candidates joined a public forum on housing led by local housing and homelessness organizations including Street Roots. The candidates—Jefferson Smith, Shonda Colleen Kelley, Josh Nuttall, Loren Charles Brown, Charlie Hales, and Eileen Brady—tackled topics from gentrification to budget cuts in the two-hour discussion. The major candidates largely agreed on one big issue: setting aside 30 percent of urban renewal cash for affordable housing. But they also made their individual marks. Brady spoke in favor of legalizing camping, in some fashion. Hales, along with Brady, said he'd goose revenues by easing the development permit process. Smith said he'd start up a foreclosure relief fund. ALEX ZIELINSKI

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Portlander Deb Austin is refusing to be evicted from her house of 25 years—and she has backup. The Parkrose neighborhood homeowner called a press conference on her front lawn the morning of Tuesday, December 6, announcing that she would rather be arrested than forced out of the house her bank foreclosed on in March. Austin fell behind on mortgage payments after both she and her husband were diagnosed with cancer. Anti-foreclosure groups We Are Oregon and Unsettle Portland say they will stick by Austin, even if the sheriff comes knocking. SARAH MIRK

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Actually good budget news! Since 2009, Portland Public School (PPS) students have gotten to school thanks to free TriMet passes. But when the state cut funding for the program, it looked like students would be left in the cold starting January 1, 2012. On Monday, December 5, the City of Portland, PPS, and TriMet announced they will pitch in $675,000 to save the free passes. SM