WATERBURY, Conn. — Cities across Connecticut are taking a new approach to tackling run down and blighted homes in their communities, and it's aimed to hit violators where it hurts the most, their wallets.

“I shouldn’t have to live like this,” plead William Azzara and other neighbors Monday to the Board of Alderman in Waterbury .

They're worried an overgrown and blighted home on Santa Maria Drive could cost them more than just their property value.

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“I’m afraid one of these days, a tree is going to come down, and I’m not going to have a house,” said Azzara.

“It’s horrendous," said neighbor Ed McDonald, talking about a rundown pickup truck in the property's driveway. "All four tires are fla

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