THE BLACK HAND FORUM

TallGuy19 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 12:12 pm

newera_212 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 8:50 am I'm not 100% sure how it works - but I believe they had some sort of plug into the union(s) that packaged and delivered the newspapers, specifically the union(s) that were contracted to handle the NY Post's packaging and delivery.

The Post's old printing and packaging plant was on South Street directly across the street from Knickerbocker Village, which was a Bonnano stronghold. KV had tenants from at least 4 of the 5 families, and still has a small number of wiseguys and families of wiseguys living there today (despite the old NY Post plant now being a Manhattan Mini Storage facility) - but some big Bonnanos were from and held apartments there back in the day. Mirra, Embaratto, Cantarella, Lefty, one of the Chillis, I believe Marangello, and more.

The Bonnanos nor any mafia family ever had influence over the newspapers themselves - in terms of actual content, etc. - but even to this day they've had influence within the unions that handle the distribution of them. There's been an indictment within the last 10 years regarding the paper delivery union that involved the Colombos.

I always thought that paper routes were independently owned, bought/sold/traded, etc. - I didn't know (and still am not 100% sure) that the delivery drivers were unionized. During the Perrino days it sounded like the Bonnanos wormed their way into just about every aspect of the plant. No show delivery jobs, regular delivery jobs, foreman jobs, bootlegging the papers, loansharking, gambling, and drug dealing between the work-a-day staff at the plant, etc.

Bonanno soldier Gino Galestro had a no-show job as a delivery driver for the Post in the early 2000s.

Browniety86 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 12:09 pm newera, you seem pretty knowledgeable on the Bonannos. When did Vitale's standing with Big Joey change and why? What made him sour on his brother in law?

newera_212 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 8:50 am I'm not 100% sure how it works - but I believe they had some sort of plug into the union(s) that packaged and delivered the newspapers, specifically the union(s) that were contracted to handle the NY Post's packaging and delivery.

The Post's old printing and packaging plant was on South Street directly across the street from Knickerbocker Village, which was a Bonnano stronghold. KV had tenants from at least 4 of the 5 families, and still has a small number of wiseguys and families of wiseguys living there today (despite the old NY Post plant now being a Manhattan Mini Storage facility) - but some big Bonnanos were from and held apartments there back in the day. Mirra, Embaratto, Cantarella, Lefty, one of the Chillis, I believe Marangello, and more.

The Bonnanos nor any mafia family ever had influence over the newspapers themselves - in terms of actual content, etc. - but even to this day they've had influence within the unions that handle the distribution of them. There's been an indictment within the last 10 years regarding the paper delivery union that involved the Colombos.

I always thought that paper routes were independently owned, bought/sold/traded, etc. - I didn't know (and still am not 100% sure) that the delivery drivers were unionized. During the Perrino days it sounded like the Bonnanos wormed their way into just about every aspect of the plant. No show delivery jobs, regular delivery jobs, foreman jobs, bootlegging the papers, loansharking, gambling, and drug dealing between the work-a-day staff at the plant, etc.

newera_212 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 11:47 am Not sure what heat was being brought down at the time, but they thought Perrino was going to rat. Almost positive Cantarella covered it in his testimony which has been posted on this board - and I also believe it happened during the time period where Massino had just been 'voted' official boss upon his release from Prison, but Vitale was essentially running the family for him. Could be wrong about that, but I thought the hit happened in like '92 and Massino got out in '91 and was laying low. I mean those guys ate through the Post plant like termites, it was only a matter of time before they were going to be ousted and the rug was going to be pulled. It's kind of unbelievable - but not surprising at the same time - that after all of that, there is still LCN presence and influence within that Delivery union.