by PolackTony » Sat May 29, 2021 12:03 pm
It’s worth considering too, that even in neighborhoods where Italians are now the minority, but a substantial one where they compose like ~25% of the population, own many properties and businesses, and have had a long-standing presence, a “racket subculture” may still persist. While there are tons of Chinese, or Uzbeks, etc, in Bensonhurst or Gravesend, the Italian minority is still a visible and significant presence. Bridgeport in Chicago still has many old school Italian families, despite the large Chinese influx. There are many Latinos and Albanians in Morris Park, Bronx, but still quite a few Italians from what I can tell. Not that the majority of Italians in these areas have or want anything to do with the mob, of course. But while greatly diminished, there is still some basis for that kind of street culture to persist I think.
As an analogy, I lived in the Sunset Park area of Brooklyn for a while. The area has a major concentration of Chinese, but they form like ~40% of the total neighborhood population. My impression is that they have an OC presence, revolving around gambling, prostitution, some drugs (ketamine seems to be especially popular among the Chinese in BK). I have absolutely no idea who these guys are, what their networks or activities are like (apart from some obviously shady karaoke bars and “massage parlors”). But I’d imagine that many Chinese in the neighborhood know who these people are.
It’s worth considering too, that even in neighborhoods where Italians are now the minority, but a substantial one where they compose like ~25% of the population, own many properties and businesses, and have had a long-standing presence, a “racket subculture” may still persist. While there are tons of Chinese, or Uzbeks, etc, in Bensonhurst or Gravesend, the Italian minority is still a visible and significant presence. Bridgeport in Chicago still has many old school Italian families, despite the large Chinese influx. There are many Latinos and Albanians in Morris Park, Bronx, but still quite a few Italians from what I can tell. Not that the majority of Italians in these areas have or want anything to do with the mob, of course. But while greatly diminished, there is still some basis for that kind of street culture to persist I think.
As an analogy, I lived in the Sunset Park area of Brooklyn for a while. The area has a major concentration of Chinese, but they form like ~40% of the total neighborhood population. My impression is that they have an OC presence, revolving around gambling, prostitution, some drugs (ketamine seems to be especially popular among the Chinese in BK). I have absolutely no idea who these guys are, what their networks or activities are like (apart from some obviously shady karaoke bars and “massage parlors”). But I’d imagine that many Chinese in the neighborhood know who these people are.