08/07/2026
I want to say something because lately I’ve been hearing that all I ever do is complain about Meriden and that I must hate this city.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
I don’t hate Meriden. I love Meriden. I’ve spent a good part of my life here, I care about the people who live here, and I want to see this city do better. That’s exactly why I speak up when I think we’re getting things wrong.
And that’s where I become frustrated.
I see the potential this city has, and I see the money we’ve spent, the projects we’ve taken on, and the opportunities we’ve had. Then I look around and ask myself, what exactly do we have to show for it?
And before someone says, “All you do is complain. What do you have to offer? What positive things do you ever say?”
Fair question.
I have plenty of positive things to say about Meriden. I see them every day. I see people helping their neighbors. I see businesses trying to survive and grow. I see people volunteering, coaching, donating, organizing events, and doing things to make this city better. I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in some of that myself.
But I’m also not going to pretend everything is great just because I love this city.
We spent roughly $14 million on the Meriden Green. I understand the flood-control part of the project, and I understand the vision was to help transform downtown. But look at that park today. Look at the condition of the waterway. Look at the trash and what goes on there during the day. There are times when it doesn’t exactly look like the centerpiece of downtown that it was supposed to become.
And yes, I jokingly called that pedestrian bridge the “Bridge to Nowhere” because, let’s be honest, it crosses a little brook in the middle of the park. Maybe there was a bigger vision for it, and I understand the project had a purpose. But after spending millions of dollars, I think residents have every right to ask what we actually got for that investment.
And this isn’t just about the Green.
Why aren’t we going after absentee landlords with the same energy we use going after people for taxes?
If somebody owns property in this city and refuses to maintain it, fix the roof, clean up the property, or address serious code violations, hold them accountable. Don’t wait until the neighborhood around them suffers.
We talk about attracting people to Meriden, growing businesses, and improving neighborhoods. Great. Then let’s make the city look like a place people actually want to invest in.
And then there’s Hubbard Park.
It’s one of the biggest assets this city has. People come from all over for the Daffodil Festival, the Festival of Silver Lights, and other events. Thousands of people come into our city and enjoy our park, which is great.
I understand Walter Hubbard’s original gift came with conditions about keeping the park free to the people of Meriden and restrictions on for-profit concessions. I respect that. But I also think it’s fair to ask whether there are creative ways to generate revenue for the park while still respecting the terms and spirit of his gift.
Maybe there are answers. Maybe there aren’t.
But that’s my point.
ASK THE QUESTIONS.
I don’t complain because I hate Meriden.
I complain because I care about Meriden.
I get frustrated because I know this city can be better than what we’re seeing.
I want our parks clean. I want our neighborhoods maintained. I want our downtown to be somewhere people actually want to spend time. I want our tax dollars spent wisely. I want landlords held accountable. I want businesses to come here and stay here.
And I will always give credit where credit is due. When something good happens in Meriden, I’ll be the first one to say it.
But I’m not going to sit quietly and pretend everything is good when I don’t believe it is.
And most of all, I want to be able to look around this city five or ten years from now and say, “Damn, we actually got something done.”
That’s not hating Meriden.
That’s wanting better for the city I call home.
Sean McDonald
