moneyman wrote: ↑Tue Jul 13, 2021 6:18 am
The Wikileaks Merlino document that came out years ago lists Merlino's Florida associates. It states that Frankie Sisto was running his Florida crew when the document came out in 2011, haven't heard that name mentioned before or since.
Yeah, that info always struck me more as some associates and hangers-on around Merlino down in Florida than a formal crew. The term "crew" being used in a more generic sense. Lucchese soldier Accetruro Jr. being included suggests as much.
nizarsoccer wrote: ↑Tue Jul 13, 2021 8:28 am
Rocco wrote: ↑Tue Jul 13, 2021 8:21 am
Phillys biggest mistake was not getting more involved in Labor Unions. Although they were involved in some unions waaay back. Its nothing like NY. Its really too late for them to even do that at this point. The reason NY families still have some control of locals is because they are able to put their people in positions. Blood family members of LCN members etc. Philly cant even get their foot in the door at this point. Merlino is right. That life is over for them. They got Drugs, Scams and half assed gambling rackets that are 1/8 of the size of 1 west side crews book.
How much control do they even have over unions anymore? John Pennisi recently talked about a Luchese local they "controlled" and they could barely do little favors without fear of attracting heat from LE.
The three smaller families, not much. Whatever influence the Luccheses and Colombos have are in construction.
Time will tell if the government is finally successful at removing Colombo influence from Concrete Local 6A, which they have been trying since the 1980s.
The Luccheses apparently had enough pull to keep the unions away so that mobbed up Sparrow Construction could use non-union labor on that hospital project, but not much else to speak of in recent years
That IBT Local 917 case with the Bonannos a while back, besides being an anomaly with that family, didn't appear to extend beyond some union official facilitating gambling and loansharking. No real labor racketeering amongst the charges.
Comparatively speaking, the Gambinos have had more in more in recent years but not by much. Even when you do see examples today, they're often relatively benign compared to the past. Most of their remaining influence will be in construction as well.
Although also vastly reduced, it goes without saying the Genovese family has had the most union influence remaining. Like the others, their biggest presence is in construction. They're basically the last ones on the waterfront with influence over a few ILA locals in New Jersey. You also see them pop up the most with involvement in random unions like the UFCW.
I still maintain that, as time goes on, more and more simply obtaining and dispensing union jobs will be the primary focus; while the more blatant labor racketeering becomes too difficult or dangerous to carry out.