THE BLACK HAND FORUM

Antiliar wrote:Actually it is open to any time period as long as the article is high quality and well-researched. Because of the time lag before the FBI and other agencies release information, it can take years before good, verifiable material is made public. FBI files, for example, are only made available after proof of the death of the subject has been made. Even then, the names of other people in the files may have their names redacted if they are still alive, not considered relevant and third party, or are informants. Facts considered procedural are redacted. Sometimes when sufficient time has passed for the file to be made public the agency destroys it since there is a file destruction program made in conjunction with the National Archives. Another consideration is that it may take years before a person connected with organized crime may feel comfortable enough to go public. The Family Secrets trial which took place in 2007 and covered events from the 1970s and 1980s. So current information is harder to come by, but to verify it takes even longer. Also, when dealing with living people you can get sued unless the information covered is already in the public domain.

BeatiPaoli wrote:To Everyone: Purchased the new issue of The Informer, waiting to receive it in mail. I am disappointed in the frequency of the editions, would really like to see it quarterly. I am impressed with the level of research, writing, annotations, etc, in the articles since the magazine's inception. Particularly impressed with the issue-spanning article clearing up all the misconceptions of the early Mafia in New York.

So, in an ( admittedly feeble) attempt to stoke the editor and author(s) to produce another fine issue-spanning, comprehensive article on all our favorite subject, I would respectfully propose that the researchers and contributing authors involved with The Informer--and the more knowledgable posters in certain geographical areas from around the country here on this Forum--collaborate to write a comprehensive piece on the current state of Cosa Nostra in the United States, updating the status of the 28 Families over the last 20-30 years (including those that are defunct) a la Ed Reid's city-by-city account of the anatomy of traditional organized crime in his excellent book (for its time) "The Grim Reapers." The comprehensive synopses would include the latest history and developments in the affairs of the Families, current structure and number of members, etc. Some of this is already being written and researched by competent members of this Forum,those who are familiar with their own regional Family. This would be quite an undertaking, but it would certainly be a landmark article, perhaps even comprising more than one issue.

Just a suggestion, by one who would like to see a comprehensive, current update of the 28 Families' status in 2015.

Regards,
Beati Paoli