NUISANCE PROP: 2030 E YORK STREET - Drugs / Pumping Sewage Into Street

only in EKNA, we're just nasty like that

It's just astounding that if you're going to do something like that, you can't at least run the hose down to the sewer inlet.

Something like this happened to me last year (not draining on purpose, but my sewage pipe got blocked). I called John Neil - he cleaned it out for me for 70 bucks and in less than an hour from when I called. It was really awful.

Ew ew ew ew ew. It amazes me that some people can live like such pigs.

It amazes me that if you're going to do something blatantly illegal which may also cause you to end up homeless, that you don't at least try to prevent the neighbors from hating you.

I think you are referring to the "Fix It" I posted. Yes it's still happening and has been going on for many months. I've reported it several times. When L & I came out the owner told them that the basement had flooded after a storm and they were just pumping out water. The inspector took their word for it and closed the case. You can see ground up toilet paper (ground by the sump pump) flowing from the end of the hose. It's really disgusting. I have not been cleaning our street for a while now because I don't want to deal with sewage soaked trash.

The Owner is dead and his kids let friends live there. Address is 2030 E York. I'm sure it's behind in taxes. There is a mother, her boyfriend and three kids living in the house. In addition, drug sales have started. I feel kinda bad for them as I'm sure they don't have the money to fix the issue but they probably shouldn't be living in a house that has sewage flowing freely in the basement.

I have not witnessed any drug sales. I'm just going with the reports of a neighbor.

Aug-2011 initial complaint
More than one complaint logged
Violation ticket #1796878 was cleared by Inspector Michael Franklin on 12/2/2011. He's either at the East District office (215-685-0535) or the North District office (215-685-3054)

It is ongoing. Almost daily. I called and left a message for the inspector. I've asked him to contact me before returning to the property. Interesting that it took him several months to respond to the initial complaint. I would imagine that there is a health code violation and child welfare issue as well.

I'll ask the neighbor to turn his outdoor cameras towards the property for both the drug sales and sewage pumping issue.

This would be the third time not at this residence but in our neighborhood I have seen or heard of this method of plumbing icky icky icky. It is a 911 call if you can catch the pump running is what I was told ...poor cops.

I hadn't thought of calling the cops. That would really help if they showed up and filed a report. Thanks.

Its a very low priority call of course but they will come ....

Update: The L & I Inspector finally came out (again) He tells me there is no way for him to know if it's sewage being pumped. I point to the bit's of ground up toilet paper on the street and tell him to take a good sniff. He knocks on the residents door and asks to go inside, she refuses. I ask him what he will do about it and he says it's not his job. Who's loving job is it then, I ask. Why are you even here if it's not your job? He rambles off some other city department and tells me to call them. Typical Philly BS.
Tomorrow, too busy today, I will try to reach his supervisor to find out who's job it is. For some reason 311 considers this an L&I issue.

Obviously it's an L&I problem. Amazing. since one guy does not want to do his job then you have to do a bunch more work to get the city interested and eventually someone will have to do something, right? Referring things to another department is their artform.

i walked past this for the first time on friday. they had the hose out in the street, but they weren't pumping. the lady was hanging out the door, she gave us the glare down when she saw us looking at the hose. wow.

I walked by this morning and they were pumping. I don't think it's raw sewage. It rained last night so I suspect they have a leaky basement and a sump pump. I'm not sure of the laws but I suspect even if it's not human waste that it's still not legal to pump to the street.

Call the water department emergency hotline http://www.phila.gov/water/contact_info.html

and the department of public health http://www.phila.gov/health/contact.html

CityHowl.

Water dept is coming tomorrow. I've made a stink (no pun intended) about the issue with anyone who will listen. It will be interesting to see what happens next. Probably my tires slashed or a brick through the window.

its amazing how everyone is so concerned at whats happening at one house.....get your facts straight......this lady who has children who run in and out each day...is not selling drugs,,,,,she is trying to get the sewege problem fixed....if it concerns you that much maybe you should try to help matters instead of slandering.....ive been here my whole life and know her very well...none of what you say is true....maybe you just moved into this neighborhood....thats probably what your problem is......you dont play well with others......well neither do i.......you should check your own back yard before entering someone elses....im sure your far from perfect......if you dont like how us true kenzos do things,,,then maybe you should consider going back where you came from....this is the problem you guys come here and try to take everything over.....ITS NOT HAPPENING.....there are still true kenzos here WHO WONT ALLOW IT......Have a blessed day....god doesnt like ugly.....and karma has a way of biting you in your buttocks.....

how is this any of your business??????? do you want to purchase this property?????? there is ways of doing so....

raw sewage in the street is a public health issue, i believe that makes it the business of anyone in the immediate area.

"you should check your own back yard before entering someone elses.."

Just checked it- no raw sewage here. How the hell is this a lifer vs newbie issue. UNBELIEVABLE how that happens with every single topic on here. It's not about old and new, it's about public health and having a standard of living that is above the level of MIlkshake at Greensgrow.

The comment from Kenzolifer seems like a threat. Coming on here and saying it's not sewage does not change the fact that it's sewage. One only need to smell it or see the bit's of ground up toilet paper. This issue has been going on since last Summer. I don't buy that it's being fixed and I'm sick of stepping over the sewer water every time I cross the street. It's disgusting and unhealthy. You might want to tell her to get it done this weekend because the Water department is scheduled, early next week, to dig the street and shut off the water permanently. BTW, I'm not afraid of you and you can clearly see my address. It was stupid to post your message as I will forward it to the police department. Don't bring additional problems on this family.

I think there are more periods and commas than actual words in that reply.

Amazing that someone would defend pumping sewage in the street, that is just not ok. Asserting that it is OK for a Kenzo to do this is really absurd. It has not been ok to run sewage down the street in Philly for over a century.

What if a newbie moved in on a block of lifers and the newbie had this sewage thing going on?

Hmm.. Adding to my list of things to think about today.

Yes, we newbies are such jerks for expecting you to literally keep your s$&t inside your own house. I'd love to tell my true Kenzo neighbors that someone represented them as people who live like trashy pigs. I think they'd take serious issue with that.

*edited to correct iPhone's auto correct.

Hey, we might me nuts, but we all aren't stupid.

I can't believe anyone would try to claim something about a whole lifer community in the way of defending their disposal of sewage on a sidewalk. Infact, I asked a lifer who lives on my block and she wants to be excluded from the list of "kenzo lifers who support raw sewage on the sidewalk."

Love thy neighbor.

yeah, because she really cares

She cares...about one specific demographic, which is not us.

I think she cares about her own demographic about as much as Romney cares about the Mormon faithful or his dog which is not much, but we are just lint, or blunt wrappers that blew to the wrong side of the El

Can't emphasize the water department enough. Had them come out for my basement water issue. Called them back to come out again Saturday since no word on the previous visit. They dye tested my corner neighbors yesterday. Green dye in my basement today. Freaking jackpot. Now per the regulatory agency, they get a violation and have to fix it and most likely fix my basement too. And sanitize it.

I've called the water department, austen. They came out and shut the water off at the curb. The residents had it back on in an hour (illegally). Two weeks have passed and calls to the Water Dept have been made daily but no additional more action. We were told that the street would be dug up last week and the water shut at the main.

I (or another neighbor) have called the following: 311, L&I, Mayor's office, Councilwoman's office, Water Department, Police, and Fox 29 News. I honestly don't know who else to call. It's either they don't care or can't be bothered to do anything unless the person calling is connected or lives in a better neighborhood.

2014, check your PMs.

The street is being excavated to shut water service. Thanks to all who called this issue in or helped. Hopefully this will end this without additional drama.

That's great to hear!

My neighbors were served with a sewer main violation today and have ten days to get it fixed. If not, then the process with L&I starts.

Yeah, I spoke with Mr Snead from the Water Department today. He had to take a phone call and it was the owner of the property effecting yours. Sounds like the same sort of issue as 2030 York.

I am uttery happy!

Good luck to both of you. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

That was my most recent inspector. Did the dye test and served the violation.

I can only imagine how relieved you both are!

They used to have a hose long enough to drain onto the street but today the hose had been cut off and is draining on the sidewalk. This has been gross but is getting worse. Can I add my voice to existing complaints or complain somewhere else so something is done?

Not that I am suggesting this, but has anyone thought to simply turn the hose back into the offending home's basement?

That would be pretty rude. They are attempting to clean out the basement, so that's just sending the problem 'water' right back into the basement.

Out of courtesy, the hose should instead be directed into another room of the house.

leo - i guess youre off the hook for getting sued for this suggestion, well.. since you didnt suggest it. ahhaha.

if you dont want to turn the hose around, there has to be some type of cement product that can clog it?

It will be interesting to see how long people can live in a house without running water. I seriously doubt any money will be spent to fix the sewer line and then there is the added cost of paying to have the water turned back on...not cheap.

3 days is as long as I've been able to make it myself.

Most of America did it until the 1800s and much of the world still does. Many of the houses in the neighborhood were built without running water or bathrooms. Backyards suffice in a pinch. Doesn't sound like they will have the courtesy to at least did a hole.

welcome to life in the favela

It looks like a crew is working on this right now—possibly PWD?

Actually PWD has a program that would loan them the money to have it fixed for 5 years at 0% interest

Any better?

Yes. the water department removed the water line and cemented the sidewalk. The people living in the house have since moved. We are looking into forcing the house into Sheriff Sale so it doesn't sit vacant forever. Hopefully someone will buy it and do a nice rehab.