by B. » Thu Feb 18, 2016 2:44 pm
I do strongly believe Martorano was part of it. He was close to Bruno, but would not have gotten made if Bruno hadn't died.
Chris Christie wrote:
I've given this alot of thought and my I'm still evolving, most, if not all, of our American and Sicilian cross Mafia connections involve Sicilian-Americans. You do not see that same thing with non-Sicilian bosses (and by non-Sicilian I would include Sicilians without any long-historic blood connections -Luciano, Accardo, Ligambi- but just happens to have been born Sicilian). Historically connected Sicilian-Americans (Bruno, Gambino, Stanfa) recognized both Sicily and American non-Sicilian members like the Gen as the "same." Meanwhile the Gen, according to Cafaro, did not recognize Sicilians. I think it boils down to the personal relationship with members. Someone like a Frank Cali with many Sicilian connections would be in a better position to recognize Sicilians whereas a Barney with mostly Harlem/NYC connections may not be in a position to vouch for anyone due to a lack of connections. And since there aren't many national meetings for people to mingle, connections have dwindled down to mostly a local level with the exception of familial connections. Bellomo has Corleonese roots and his grandfather lived very close to Giuseppe Morello, but that doesn't prove anything. Whereas Frank Cali has been reported to be linked to Palermo. D'Aquila's mother was a Cali.
As this relates to Stanfa, in the country 30 years, how long must someone be a resident to not be considered a zip? I think Anastasia used that to contrast Merlino's style. The truth is Stanfa did not run Philadelpia in the traditional Sicilian fashion. His "zips" were actually Calabrian-American migrants from Cittanova who just happened to be criminals in Philadelphia with a Cittanovesi population since 1964. His other recruits were Veasey (non-Italian in his father's side) and Previte (a former cop). If he had brought over relatives from Caccamo I'd say Stanfa was trying to bring about a Sicilianismo renaissance but his administrative/membership choices paint a different story. Stanfa wasn't Furio Giunta or Sal Catalano. By 1990 he was as American as Luciano or Cali.
Also, I *heard (we'll file this under internet allegation) that Massimino has blood-relations to the Sicilian Mafia. I can't confirm or deny.
It was Tag who used to post that Massimino had possible relatives involved with the mafia in Agrigento. Maybe that's where he can trace his heritage, but I'd be surprised if he has connections there.
I think you're both right about the Sicilian/American connection being mainly on a case by case basis, with Sicilian-Americans with relatives overseas being the main connection.
I do strongly believe Martorano was part of it. He was close to Bruno, but would not have gotten made if Bruno hadn't died.
[quote="Chris Christie"]
I've given this alot of thought and my I'm still evolving, most, if not all, of our American and Sicilian cross Mafia connections involve Sicilian-Americans. You do not see that same thing with non-Sicilian bosses (and by non-Sicilian I would include Sicilians without any long-historic blood connections -Luciano, Accardo, Ligambi- but just happens to have been born Sicilian). Historically connected Sicilian-Americans (Bruno, Gambino, Stanfa) recognized both Sicily and American non-Sicilian members like the Gen as the "same." Meanwhile the Gen, according to Cafaro, did not recognize Sicilians. I think it boils down to the personal relationship with members. Someone like a Frank Cali with many Sicilian connections would be in a better position to recognize Sicilians whereas a Barney with mostly Harlem/NYC connections may not be in a position to vouch for anyone due to a lack of connections. And since there aren't many national meetings for people to mingle, connections have dwindled down to mostly a local level with the exception of familial connections. Bellomo has Corleonese roots and his grandfather lived very close to Giuseppe Morello, but that doesn't prove anything. Whereas Frank Cali has been reported to be linked to Palermo. D'Aquila's mother was a Cali.
As this relates to Stanfa, in the country 30 years, how long must someone be a resident to not be considered a zip? I think Anastasia used that to contrast Merlino's style. The truth is Stanfa did not run Philadelpia in the traditional Sicilian fashion. His "zips" were actually Calabrian-American migrants from Cittanova who just happened to be criminals in Philadelphia with a Cittanovesi population since 1964. His other recruits were Veasey (non-Italian in his father's side) and Previte (a former cop). If he had brought over relatives from Caccamo I'd say Stanfa was trying to bring about a Sicilianismo renaissance but his administrative/membership choices paint a different story. Stanfa wasn't Furio Giunta or Sal Catalano. By 1990 he was as American as Luciano or Cali.
Also, I *heard (we'll file this under internet allegation) that Massimino has blood-relations to the Sicilian Mafia. I can't confirm or deny.[/quote]
It was Tag who used to post that Massimino had possible relatives involved with the mafia in Agrigento. Maybe that's where he can trace his heritage, but I'd be surprised if he has connections there.
I think you're both right about the Sicilian/American connection being mainly on a case by case basis, with Sicilian-Americans with relatives overseas being the main connection.