Good morning.

Lollapalooza wrapped up Sunday, the Lolla kids went home to sleep and the editorial board cheered the music festival's economic impact and that big and crucial check promoter C3 writes every year to the Chicago Park District. Take a look below to read our view on how much we need this festival.

We have two pieces for you on the stunning decision by the Chicago School Board to pass a budget that anticipates money from Springfield that is unlikely to come its way. First, we have an editorial lamenting the folly of such wishful thinking and laying out the likely consequences. Second, we have a must-read piece from board member Angel Gutierrez: "Eleven members chose speculation over evidence," Gutierrez writes, mincing no words, "politics over professional judgment, and short-term applause over long-term stability."

Sunday saw the Illinois Secretary of State, Alexi Giannoulias, officially enter the race for the Mayor of Chicago. Today, the editorial board looks not at one candidate (although Giannoulias has raised a formidable amount of cash) but on what we hope to see from what now is a growing field of candidates. There is one party, of course, who has not yet revealed his intentions. That would be our current mayor, Brandon Johnson.

The editorial board also takes a look Monday at how Americans are drinking less booze and, in letters, our readers lament the closure of vital grocery stores to many Chicagoans.

Finally, I want to draw your attention to a piece filled with practical advice for Chicago's biggest problem: gun violence. The wise heads of Charlie Beck, Jens and Chico Tillmon offer us four concrete, specific ideas that they say could cut the number of shootings in half in our city.

Don't miss that one.

Have a great Monday,

— Chris Jones, editorial page editor

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