Good morning and happy July 4 week.

"New York’s Democratic primary for mayor this week drew more attention from Chicagoans than any local election beyond our borders in recent memory," Austin Berg writes today in our Opinion section. That's true. But Berg goes on to point out that New York was forced to reform the machinery of its own government after its brush with bankruptcy in 1975. In New York, Berg writes, "the whims and ideology of one leader – regardless of where they lie on the political spectrum – are hemmed in by structure." In Chicago, he explains, not so much.

It's a must read and a great match with our Monday editorial wondering if Mayor Brandon Johnson is going to pick up the phone and woo some of New York's disgruntled billionaires worried about being a target for Zohran Mamdani, potentially a new socialist mayor. We're not holding our breath.

Clarence Page also looks at the rise of Mamdani; Clarence is wondering how this development in New York will play out for national Democrats.

Such is the crisis facing Chicago's restaurants that the editorial board devoted its entire Sunday print section to the problem and, specifically, the importance of allowing eateries to pay tipped employees less than their kitchen workers, given how much typically is made in tips. We feel strongly about this one. Independent restaurants in this city are hurting.

It's almost NASCAR weekend in Chicago and our architecture columnist Edward Keegan has some thoughts on the big race coming your way again this weekend, but maybe not thereafter.

We can tell what is not going away any time soon: new taxes in the State of Illinois. Today, the editorial board details some of them for your reading pleasure, or more likely displeasure.

But don't let that spoil your holiday week.

— Chris Jones, editorial page editor

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