Letter To The Editor,I am writing as a deeply disappointed citizen and small business owner who has invested time, money, and heart into this city, only to watch Alton continue to decline.With all due respect, closing downtown businesses is not a solution. Of course, if nothing remains open downtown, there will be no crime, but there will also be no community, no opportunity, and no reason for people to invest in Alton’s future. That is not progress; it is surrender. Is that the goal?If the City of Alton and its leadership were truly committed to the upward mobility of its residents and small businesses, that commitment would be visible in the results. Instead, I see stagnation, neglect, and a steady erosion of confidence.Meanwhile, surrounding towns and villages are thriving, building inf

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