Gotcha- it was already established that another house is tapped into the same line though, so we're trying to get clear on who else is on it too- even if we moved ours, if others are on the same line there would still be a leak that needs fixed so I guess one thing at a time. Thanks to all for chipping in your thoughts and ideas and if anyone has anything new to say... well that's the reason we're here.

Thanks Vigilante, for the link, and Dave, yes, we have been seeing some plumbers to see what they can do about snaking/jetting/putting a camera through this alley pipe to see where the problem originates and if it's broken just under the neighbor's house or all the way down the block. After speaking with some of the neighbors, I have more and more of an impression that the alley pipe could be a very historical pipe indeed. I'm pretty ignorant about attaching pics here , tried it to no avail but I'll try again when I get a moment. Stayed home for a bit as we happened upon the gentlemen from MUA who were arriving to do dye-tests with the basement-level neighbors who were home so today is a day of some progress.

Bumping this topic.... after we went door to door, no results from JCMUA yet.

Hi everyone,
We are currently going back and forth with the city and the MUA regarding the public sewer line. Back in December, we noticed a leak coming up behind the neighbor's garage that oozed out towards Coles (we're a few houses east of the intersection). Mayor's Action bureau gave us to United Water, who gave us to JCMUA, who attempted to give us back to United Water. Due to the runaround, got in touch with Fulop who immediately involved the ED of JCMUA. No resolution yet, JCMUA claims that unless it's proven the sewer lines of multiple houses lead back to the alleyway (as opposed to toward the street), it's our responsibility as the homeowners to fix. And they only ran a dye test on our place, not the rest of the block. The leak is well off our property and the pipe is probably as old as the city. We will stay on them until this is resolved but I wanted to check in with the JCers to see if anyone else has done any similar back and forth, if you have recommendations, and if anyone knows any attorneys who would have a background in similar--especially local- matters. PM if you live nearby and want to discuss anything, want to hear more of the story, or if you live on the north side of 4th and are willing to schedule a dye test to see if your line runs toward the alley. We are devoting some time to this every day and keeping a log of all the communications. Thank you!! -Angel

Guy gave some BS about shooting in the area... my mistake to not let him talk more but after I told him he needs to get permission and he asked how he was going to contact everyone in the neighborhood I kind of lost it on him, because it was just too idiotic.
He and his lady friend sat in the car for a few so we had time to take down the plate.
For some reason I was hesitant to post it initially but if someone blatantly disrespects privacy that much, then they obviously don't believe in privacy.
L42 BMX. I didn't bother taking the state but I believe it was NJ because I would have noticed if it was out of state.

Hi all,

I'm on 4th b/w Jersey and Coles. sitting in my living room this morning and saw a tall white man in a red cap with a girl casually strolling on the roof of my garage. Shocked, and in our PJs, we did not run out the back screaming, cause they'd already gone past.
Later, we came across our neighbor outside who relayed a story of her elderly mom having seen someone in the front yard taking pictures the day before, who jumped over her fence into our yard and then left. She didn't have a description as the mother kept herself locked inside and by the time the call connected the guy was gone.

As we were speaking, the roof strollers walked on 4th Street and headed toward their car, which was parked next door to our home. We confronted them and the guy seemed surprised that strolling on garages and looking at people's homes was not a perfectly legal thing to do. Told him that if there was ANY burglary in the neighborhood, we now had their descriptions to report. So shocked, we didn't grill him more about WHY he was actually in such a non scenic area with his camera, and if his motives were bad, why he parked RIGHT THERE-- but as he did, we did take the plate before he drove away.
Police are being provided with the plate number but wanted to post in case anyone in the neighborhood wants to PM for it. Man was tall, slender and dark sandy short hair. Red cap, hipster looking except no beard. Girl was about 5'3" or so with brown hair.
If you think we should do more (thinking about leaving a note in all mailboxes on the block on my way out tomorrow with the plate no) please leave any constructive suggestions.