After a year of trying, Rep. Bobby Rush convened a roundtable with the EPA and South suburban mayors to discuss water main emergencies that have been plaguing communities.

Why it matters: Because of failing infrastructure, some residents are being deprived of access to clean water.

What they're saying: "We have citizens across the state of Illinois that wake up every day without knowing if they're going to have water," Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant said after the meeting.

• "It is totally unacceptable," Rush said in a statement.

Context: The towns of Dixmoor and Robbins have seen several water main breaks recently, with other mayors saying they've had similar issues.

• Some systems are over 100 years old.

By the numbers: Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts told CBS in September the repairs would cost about $39 million.

• He said federal funding is needed, but he conceded there has been financial mismanagement in Dixmoor over the years.
• The government needs recent financial reports to allocate resources, something Roberts says they just don't have.

Zoom out: With high-profile water issues in nearby Flint, Michigan, and in Jackson, Mississippi, there is a renewed push to modernize water management and infrastructure.

What's next: Gov. JB Pritzker pledged $94 million for infrastructure improvements in Southland, including water main replacements, this fall. But that project won't be finished until 2025.

• The affected mayors plan to reach out to the governor to find resources to fix the problem now.

💭 Justin's thought bubble: I'm surprised local environmental activists haven't sprung into action over this water crisis, as we've seen in other parts of the country.

• It gets coverage from area news outlets, but where's the outrage?

Cubs fans are dismayed that the team missed out on big free agents, including shortstop Carlos Correa.

• The offseason splurge has seen record contracts for baseball's best, but the White Sox and Cubs didn't spend like their big-market counterparts.

Between the lines: Chicago sports fans have reason to question their teams' recent performances.

• The Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox and Sky do not have any players in the top 10 highest paid in their respective leagues.

Threat level: MLB reporter Bruce Levine suggested the White Sox won't spend money on big free agents unless they have better attendance numbers.

• The organization was 19th in attendance in 2022.

The bottom line: Chicago franchises aren't spending, regardless of how many fans pass through the turnstiles:

⚾️ Cubs and Sox

• Highest paid Cub: Pitcher Marcus Stroman ($25 million annually)
• White Sox: Pitcher Lance Lynn ($18.5 million)
• MLB: Mets' pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander ($43.3 million each)

🏈 The Bears

• Highest paid: Eddie Jackson ($11.1 million), the 156th highest paid player in the league
• NFL: Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford ($61 million)

🏀 The Bulls

• Highest paid: Zach LaVine ($37 million)
• NBA: Golden State's Steph Curry ($48 million)

🥅 The Hawks:

• Highest paid: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews ($6.9 million each)
• NHL: Edmonton's Connor McDavid ($12 million)

Of note: Each league tracks annual salaries differently, so we used yearly cash numbers instead of salary cap hits.

Read the full story

💰 Alderpeople want to use pandemic relief funds to help residents with their property taxes. (Tribune)

🏠 ComEd is spending $40 million to "decarbonize" homes and eliminate the use of natural gas. (Sun-Times)

🚲 Blocking or parking in a bike lane will now get you a $250 ticket after council passed a new ordinance this week. (Block Club)

There's nothing quite like the gift of an annual membership, especially if you've already bought home goods or books for the holidays:

International Museum of Surgical Science

It's hard to pick only one museum membership to gift, but we suggest the International Museum of Surgical Science at 1524 N. Lake Shore Drive. It's the only museum in North America dedicated to the science of surgery.

• Price: $65 annually for individuals, $100 for families.

The Music Box

The historic Music Box Theater, at 3373 N. Southport Ave., shows classic films and new indie smashes, as well as hosting the occasional sing-along. Membership gets you discounted tickets and first call on special events.

• Price: $60 annually.

Flowers for Dreams

Instead of just buying flowers for special occasions, give a subscription for monthly flower delivery. Several local places do it, including Flowers for Dreams.

• Price: $54 a month.

📫 Reply to this email with your favorite local items and we'll include next week!

Two more subscriptions

💼 See who’s hiring around the city.

1. Director, Business Development, Cyber One Trust at KPMG.
2. Sr. Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Zeno Group.
3. Internal Communications Manager at Ardagh Group.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a Job.

The Bears host the NFC-leading Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

• The Eagles are jockeying for the conference's top playoff seed, while the Bears are jockeying for the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Here to help make sure you have authentic foods on hand this weekend is our friend Isaac Avilucea from Axios Philadelphia:

🙄 No, Philly palates are not strictly limited to cheesesteaks.

🥖 Roast pork hoagie: We love our hoagies. Some feel the roast pork hoagie is a superior sandwich to the cheesesteak. (Count Axios Philly co-author Mike D'Onofrio among them.)

• The combination of thinly sliced pork with provolone and greens on a long roll is irresistible. Don't forget to add the au jus!

🍧 Ice, ice, baby: You've got a few options for dessert. Water ice, known as "Italian ice" in most other places, is a classic.

• Score extra points by calling it "wooder" ice.

Three more dishes