Good morning.

We do this opinion writing and editing for a living, but sometimes our readers' contributions truly impress us with their sophistication and thoughtfulness. Today is one of those days.

We're running a full page in print of reader letters, addressing an array of topics including a recent editorial on the potential change in Chicago's parking-meter ownership as well as the seemingly endless debate over the co-existence of drivers and cyclists in Chicago. We feature lots of voices of reason today. Check them out.

The editorial board weighs in on an effort to put the question of recalling new Aurora Mayor John Laesch to voters.

And a second editorial posits a potential area of agreement in the emotional North Shore battle over Ryan Field in Evanston. There will be a New Trier-Evanston football game played in the new stadium in mid-October, something folks on all sides of this argument can get behind, the board thinks. Autumn in Chicagoland can't be beat.

The president of the College of DuPage makes the case for four-year degrees at Illinois community colleges in an op-ed.

And Mary Wagoner with the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago writes in support of state legislation that would permit pension-burdened municipalities like Chicago to offer pension buyouts to their workers — as the state of Illinois has done for years.

Have a great Thursday, and we'll see you back here tomorrow.

— Steve Daniels, editorial board member

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