Good morning, Chicago. I gave up a pint of blood on Sunday for a blood drive at my local farmers market. It takes the body as long as six weeks afterward to replace its red blood cells. I have to wait eight weeks before I can donate again so my body doesn’t take too hard of a hit.

Today, the Tribune Editorial Board wonders just how hard of a hit Chicagoans are going to take as Mayor Brandon Johnson tries to come up with a sizable transfusion of cash for a city drained of money. Who will be targeted for monetary withdrawal: taxpayers via a property tax hike or city workers via furloughs and layoffs? The nearly $1 billion budget hole the city faces in 2025 will require painful consequences for at least one of these groups, the board writes.

Speaking of the budget crisis, two civic leaders in an op-ed have a sincere request to make of city government: Seize upon this moment to “invest in technology systems, facilities and civilian infrastructure” to improve reform at the Chicago Police Department.

We also have another stellar piece from former congressional reporter John T. Shaw on our nation’s pressing need for competent, compassionate leaders who are skilled in the art of government. “No single issue in American life is in greater need of statesmanship than immigration,” Shaw writes.

And in his latest column, Daniel DePetris pokes holes in the idea that Russia, China, North Korea and Iran have conspired to form an alliance intent on taking the U.S. down.

Plus, our readers continue to share their thoughts on the looming election. If you’d like to share yours, please send us a letter by clicking the link below.

Thanks as always for reading. We’ll be back tomorrow.

— Colleen Kujawa, opinion editor

Submit an op-ed | Submit a letter to the editor | Meet the Tribune Editorial Board | Subscribe to this newsletter