You are right my friend. We offer more services to these types of people than any community around with the possible exception of Alton.
You see, Edwardsville wouldn't want these people near the administrative building downtown. Oh no. Build places in Granite with county tax dollars to house these people while you they spend millions on streetscape, fancy offices etc... at our county seat.
Granted, these people need to be somewhere but why does GC get the lion share? Because we make it so easy for them. You need a flop house hotel? Come to GC. You need assistance with power bills, free phones? Come to GC. WE got it.
It's going to eventually kill the community. No one is comfortable being approached in their car by these types. Sad.