The city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County this week voted to approve nearly $40 million in public funding to pay for repairs at Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Why it matters: The teams' leases stipulate the public is responsible for repair costs, but the lone funding source — the county sin tax on cigarettes and alcohol — is no longer sufficient to cover their demands.

Between the lines: These are repairs outside the parameters of the "Q Deal" and the Progressive Field Deal, agreements that have already encumbered hundreds of millions of public dollars for major facelifts.

State of play: The Guardians want additional funds for more seating, a subroof and a new emergency generator.

• The Cavs are waiting on reimbursement for new elevators and broadcast control room upgrades.

Follow the money: At its meeting Tuesday, the Cuyahoga County Council voted to borrow $14.5 million in new money and use $2.5 million from the general fund.

• The Cleveland City Council voted the day before to contribute $20 million as well — taking $10 million from other city projects, $5 million from a minority business credit program, and $5 million from the general fund.

The intrigue: These contributions are one-time measures to cover the existing shortfall, but won't satisfy future obligations.

• Signal Cleveland reports Council President Blaine Griffin and County Executive Chris Ronayne are in talks to raise the sin tax, which would require a change to state law.

What we're watching: Also mentioned at the city council Monday was the idea of a "New Community Authority" (NCA) as a long-term solution.

• Another NCA has already been proposed to fund infrastructure at the Cleveland lakefront.
• Residents could be looking at all sorts of new fees and surcharges at downtown businesses in the coming years.

💭 Sam's thought bubble...

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame puts an exclamation point on celebrating 50 years of hip-hop with a special lecture today.

The intrigue: Amy Coddington, an assistant professor of music at Amherst College, is in town to discuss her book "How Hip Hop Became Hit Pop."

• It traces the rise of rap music from an underground sensation in New York City to a global entertainment juggernaut.

What they're saying: "Hip-hop is rightly celebrated for its political influence and giving a voice to people who have been marginalized," Coddington tells Axios.

• "But it's also become one of the most dominant influences on pop culture around the world."

Between the lines: Coddington's book takes its name from a line in rap group 3rd Bass' 1991 song "Pop Goes the Weasel," which pokes fun at the commercialization of hip-hop by artists like Vanilla Ice.

• "The book shows two sides," Coddington says. "It's a balance between the incredible journey hip-hop has to go through and at what cost, with white-owned companies often making the most money off the genre."

If you go: Coddington's lecture at 7pm takes place inside the Rock Hall's "The Garage" exhibit and is free with regular admission.

What's next: The event coincides with the closing of the museum's "Holla If You Hear Me: Hip Hop at 50" on the museum's bottom floor, which ends its run on Jan. 6.

👎 Jimmy Haslam, Strongsville's Route 82, cashless venues, economic impact studies and more get a dressing down in Cleveland Scene's annual "Worst of Cleveland" list. (Cleveland Scene)

✏️ Mayor Justin Bibb has appointed a retired library manager, a juvenile court coordinator and a local pastor to the Cleveland school board, filling vacancies created by recent resignations. (Signal Cleveland)

🎄 A fight broke out among "several hundred teens" after the weekend tree lighting ceremony on Public Square. (News 5 Cleveland)

🏡 Former Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff sold his Avon Lake mansion for $3.9 million. (Crain's Cleveland Business 🔒)

🎭 "A Christmas Story"

The intrigue: Cleveland Play House's annual production of the holiday classic brings Ralphie and company to life through Dec. 22. Tickets start at $37.50.

💭 Our thought bubble: See it. You can't live in Cleveland and not love "A Christmas Story."

🎨 Holiday ArtWalk

The intrigue: Head to Little Italy at 5pm tomorrow through Sunday and see one of Cleveland's most historic neighborhoods and the talented artists who populate it.

💭 Our thought bubble: See it. Not only is it free, but most art presentations take place indoors, giving you a chance to stay warm. 

🎤 Pentatonix

The intrigue: The popular a cappella group brings its "Hallelujah! It's a Christmas Tour" to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday at 7pm.

💭 Our thought bubble: Skip it, only because the show is just about sold out with remaining tickets starting at $70 for "limited view" seats.

Taylor Swift is Spotify's top global artist for the second year in a row, and she's tops in Cleveland, too.

The intrigue: The Drake vs. Kendrick war was one of the biggest pop culture stories of the year.

• Drake was more popular with Cleveland Spotify users, but Kendrick's "Not Like Us" was the third-most popular song.

Cleveland's Top Artists of 2024 on Spotify:

1. Taylor Swift
2. Drake
3. Morgan Wallen
4. Zach Bryan
5. Future

Cleveland's Top Songs of 2024 on Spotify:

1. "I Had Some Help" (feat. Morgan Wallen) by Post Malone 
2. "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey 
3. "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar
4. "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter
5. "MILLION DOLLAR BABY" by Tommy Richman

How it works: Users can access their personalized Spotify Wrapped experience in the "Wrapped" feed on the app's home page.

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