Good morning, Chicago. My native state of Indiana, a Republican stronghold, has decided to end its consideration of mid-cycle redistricting because the state Senate doesn’t have the votes. The Tribune Editorial Board applauds that decision and believes Illinois’ governor also would be wise to drop thoughts of a remap. Gov. JB Pritzker should “recognize the unpopularity of mid-decade redistricting for purely political purposes in a state with some of the worst gerrymandering in the country,” the board writes.

In its other editorial, the board observes that Mayor Brandon Johnson appears to be having a hard time reading the room after the 25-10 defeat of his head tax in a Finance Committee vote. “For a second straight year, the mayor has lost control of the budget process,” the board notes.

On a related note, good government advocate Andy Shaw explains in an op-ed why Chicago’s captains of industry so often reject new taxes proposed by city and state government while generously donating money to museums and other community needs. Also in Tribune Opinion, western Illinois farmer Rob Elliott pleads with Congress to pass an emergency relief package to help stabilize farmers and secure the crop protection tools they depend on, such as the herbicide glyphosate. And foreign affairs columnist Daniel DePetris has a message for President Donald Trump as he prepares to meet with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince: Don’t give away the farm in your pursuit of diplomatic wins.

Also, be sure to check out our readers’ letters. Three officials who have experience with tourism or working with the city marketing agency Choose Chicago clap back at the editorial board for advising the agency to keep its efforts focused on promoting downtown and not the neighborhoods.

We’ll be back tomorrow.

— Colleen Kujawa, opinion editor

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