Happy Friday the 13th! 👀 No scares here. Just don't break any mirrors, walk under any ladders or start calculating your water bill.

🌧️ Today's weather: Yikes! Cloudy with rain chances, a high of 44 and a low of 32.

🎶 Sounds like: "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder.

1,016 words — a 4-minute read. Lucky you.

Two Cincinnati City Council members say they'll oppose proposed annual water rate hikes of nearly 10% through 2031, arguing large water users should pay more.

Why it matters: The increases would add nearly $19 a month to the average residential bill by 2031, raising questions about who should pay for infrastructure upgrades.

Driving the news: Water Works proposed a plan to pay for
federal mandates to remove lead pipes and so-called forever chemicals (PFAS).

• But Councilmembers Mark Jeffreys and Anna Albi believe there are better ways to pay for them than burdening residents who've already seen their taxes go up alongside other cost-of-living increases.

How it works: In Cincinnati, the more water customers use, the less they pay per gallon.

• Customers pay $3.86 for every 748 gallons used. But after 14,960 gallons in a month, the price drops to $3.25 for every additional 748 gallons. It drops again to $2.90 after 448,800 gallons.
• Water Works says the average residential household uses about 4,563 gallons a month, meaning most never use enough water to get the discount.

What they're saying: "This is a massive increase," Jeffreys tells Axios. "It's not something that I'm supportive of at this time."

• He says he wants to explore a system where customers pay more per gallon as they use more water, similar to Butler County's system.
• Albi believes the city should eliminate the lower rates for heavy water users. She's also advocating for offering more discounts to lower-income working households.

Yes, but: Water Works says looking at lower rates for high usage alone doesn't tell the whole story.

• Spokesperson Kevin Osborne tells Axios customers also pay a fixed charge based on the size of their water meter.
• A typical homeowner pays $9.26 a month for that charge, compared with $771.30 for a large industrial customer.

Flashback: Cincinnati residents have already seen annual water rate increases since at least 2012, including 5.55% hikes each year since 2023.

• "There's no question in my mind that we need to pay for these improvements," Albi says. "The question is who and how do we pay?"

The intrigue: A spokesperson for Mayor Aftab Pureval says he supports the rate increase, but he doesn't get to vote on it.

What's next: Council's Budget and Finance Committee is expected to consider the proposal Monday, with a possible full council vote Wednesday.

Go deeper

For some Bengals fans, the best part of game day isn't what happens on the field. It's making sure someone else gets to experience the magic of the Jungle.

Zoom in: Project Game-Dey, a local nonprofit that sends people with disabilities and veterans to Bengals games, will honor a father-daughter duo Sunday when Cincinnati takes on Pittsburgh.

• Brilee Myers, 12, has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and a vision impairment. Sunday's game will be her first time seeing the Bengals play in person.
• Her dad, Brian, is a Marine Corps veteran whose military career ended after a severe hip injury. He now works for Cincinnati Public Schools.

Flashback: Project Game-Dey began in 2024 when a group of Bengals-loving friends hosted an NFL draft watch party to raise money for game tickets.

• Since then, the nonprofit has honored 28 people, co-founder Joe Streck tells Axios.

How it works: Honorees receive game tickets, parking, concessions, spending money and a custom Bengals jersey.

• They're also celebrated at a pregame tailgate, where fans hear their stories and can contribute to future experiences.

Case in point: Streck recalls one young honoree, Frankie, who had a liver transplant and sometimes uses a wheelchair.

• Frankie danced at his tailgate, met Ja'Marr Chase on the field and received a pair of the receiver's gloves.
• "Those are the moments that make all the hard work worthwhile," Streck says.

Get in the game: Fans can nominate honorees, volunteer or donate.

• "We may only be giving someone tickets to a football game on paper," Streck says, "but in reality, we're creating memories."

✈️ CVG is considering a parking overhaul that could introduce demand-based pricing in 2027. Daily rates currently start at $10. (Biz Courier 🔒)

🏈 The St. Xavier-Elder playoff rematch tonight will be featured during NBC's "Sunday Night Football" broadcast. Fans picked it in an Instagram poll. (Enquirer)

🦫 Busy beavers, weather and utility issues delayed a sewer project in the East End by about a month after taking up residence in a pipe slated for closure. (WCPO)

Cincinnati's Christmas tree returns to Fountain Square tomorrow, reminding us of the time our city's holiday centerpiece became a meme symbolic of the year — 2020.

Flashback: Six years ago, our tree went viral for looking less like a majestic evergreen and more like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree after a rough night.

• The scraggly, lopsided spruce remained media fodder until the experts worked their magic, giving it a glow-up.
• The tree has looked great ever since. Call it a redemption bark.

State of (dis)play: This year's 58-foot tree arrives at 7am tomorrow, kicking off a day of holiday festivities.

• Cookie decorating and free ornament-making run from 8am to noon.
• Shillito's Elves return to the windows of Carew Tower.
• The CVG Fountain of Lights debuts at 7pm, with synchronized shows every 15 minutes.

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🔪 Casey thinks starting "Crystal Lake" on Friday the 13th is an obvious choice.

👑 Swilley's finally gonna check out this horror remake.

Thanks to today's guest editor, Chloe Gonzales, who we managed not to scare off.