by Selig » Thu Sep 21, 2017 3:33 pm
Antiliar wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2017 1:56 am
My guess is that the Five Families peaked around 1931. Guys were being brought in left and right during Prohibition, and many more during the clash between Masseria and Maranzano. Then there was reportedly a hold on making new members except for replacements.
Clearly Prohibition and the Castellammarese war was the impetus for the major expansion of the New York City Families, which led to the cap which was imposed by the Commission in 1931 to maintain a balance of power. I would imagine all the Families would have pretty much maintained their 1931 levels while the books were closed,but I wonder if membership may have risen again between when the books were opened in the early 1940's until they closed again in 1957 after Apalachin.
But to answer the op, that would still mean that peak size of he NYC Families was very likely to be pre Bonanno war rather than post. I seem to recall that Joe Bonanno estimated his Family at 400 members prior to that conflict and they were certainly never more than 200 post that.
[quote=Antiliar post_id=58129 time=1505984170 user_id=77]
My guess is that the Five Families peaked around 1931. Guys were being brought in left and right during Prohibition, and many more during the clash between Masseria and Maranzano. Then there was reportedly a hold on making new members except for replacements.
[/quote]
Clearly Prohibition and the Castellammarese war was the impetus for the major expansion of the New York City Families, which led to the cap which was imposed by the Commission in 1931 to maintain a balance of power. I would imagine all the Families would have pretty much maintained their 1931 levels while the books were closed,but I wonder if membership may have risen again between when the books were opened in the early 1940's until they closed again in 1957 after Apalachin.
But to answer the op, that would still mean that peak size of he NYC Families was very likely to be pre Bonanno war rather than post. I seem to recall that Joe Bonanno estimated his Family at 400 members prior to that conflict and they were certainly never more than 200 post that.