Another Out-of-Towner, Another Tragedy in Waterbury

By D.M. Livingston

Waterbury, CT— Police are investigating the untimely death of 40-year-old Joseph McCarthy, a Torrington resident found dead Sunday evening inside an abandoned building on Cherry Street.

According to authorities, there are no apparent suspicious circumstances at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

But for those of us who live here, this scene is becoming all too familiar. Another person—not from Waterbury—found lifeless in one of our forgotten corners. Not at a job site. Not at a community center. In an abandoned building.

Why do so many people from out of town end up in Waterbury like this?

It’s time to have a real conversation.

This city has become a dumping ground for problems no one else wants to deal with. And while we lead with compassion, we also have to lead with common sense. If people are coming here with no intention of working, contributing, or even living legally or safely—what do we owe them that we don’t already owe our own struggling residents?

Should Waterbury be allowed to create and enforce local-level ordinances—on loitering, trespassing, even residency enforcement—to protect our public spaces and redirect resources to our own people?

We can’t save everyone.
But we can save our city.
Let’s talk about it.