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Meriden resident urges action at downtown Towers, says tenants "live in fear"
Summary
A resident told the Human Rights Advisory Board the Towers are "the most horrendous place" in Meriden, citing drug use, violence and poor counselor response; the board was told the city can pursue code enforcement, fines and liens against negligent property owners.
Dan Zabrowski, a Meriden resident, used the board's public-comment period to urge the city to act on long‑standing problems at a downtown housing complex he and others call "the Towers," saying tenants "live in dignity" and “they're living in fear.” Zabrowski said he has attended local meetings and described recurring drug use, violence and a recent machete attack that has left neighbors alarmed.
Zabrowski said on-site counselors are not effectively protecting tenants and credited local advocates for getting security reinstated: "Who do you think got the security back into those buildings? John Melavender, who sits right here," he said. He also named Yvette Cortez as a liaison to the Meriden Housing Authority and pressed the board to help residents who lack confidence in day‑to‑day safety and outreach.
The complaint comes amid questions about who can act. At the meeting, city attorney Emily Holland told the board the Towers are owned by the Meriden Housing Authority — a separate legal entity that administers some HUD programs — but that both public and private property owners in Meriden remain subject to local building and housing codes. Holland outlined the enforcement ladder: inspections and orders, citations and fines (she cited a $100‑per‑day penalty for ongoing violations), liens placed on properties and, in rare cases when owners ignore orders, foreclosure on the lien as a last resort.
Board members said they hear the community's concern and reiterated that some problems require coordination across departments and, when appropriate, with the housing authority. Members urged the resident to document complaints for the board's quarterly report to the city manager so the matter can be tracked and referred for enforcement or further city action.
The advisory board did not take a formal enforcement action at the meeting. Members voted later in the agenda to approve a draft report, which the board will send to the city manager; that report can include the Towers concerns and ask the manager to coordinate health, housing, police and blight enforcement responses.
