TSNYC wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 3:33 am
Hoping this is a good book. I’m curious what kind of sourcing material exists. Really can’t recall any racketeering trials against gang members for their gang membership so not sure there’d be a ton of trial transcripts / material to go by.
I ended with about 400-ish references- primarily law enforcement reports, news reports, and a few court cases- but you're right in that there wasn't a ton of those available. I was able, though, to find some through legal reference sources.
But overall it was a rare case in that I usually start with a lot of information that I winnow down. In this case, I had a little bit and had to expand out.
PolackTony wrote: ↑Tue Aug 31, 2021 10:25 pm
Looking forward to checking this out. Bravo to Scott D.
Lived on Pleasant Ave and 118 years back and got to know a number of old timers from back in the day. They would point out some of the buildings that were used as heroin warehouses and packaging/distribution points; supposedly the women that were employed for the packaging operations were required to work naked to ensure they didn't smuggle any dope out. I was told that the old wire factory that used to be on 117 between Pleasant and the FDR (where the little mall with Costco is now) was where the "mob" used to dump bodies.
I used to know an older black dude who grew up in "Spanish Harlem" (like 3rd Ave and 110). When I once asked him if people from his side of the neighborhood ever went over past 1st Ave, his eyes got super big and he was like "By the Italian side?!? Oh no, no, no!!". This guy had lived in some of the roughest parts of Harlem and the Bronx back in the "bad old days", but "Italian Harlem" was really off the hook in the 70s by all local accounts I've heard.
I once met this really wild, thugged out Italian dude from Pleasant Ave (rocking a do-rag and all) who told me he had just came out of a long prison sentence and was stunned at all of the gentrification and demographic change in the area. He showed me where he had his leg reconstructed from a shotgun blast. Dude reminded me exactly of a New York version of the old C-Notes in Chicago (very rough Italian street gang from my old neighborhood) and I've wondered since then if he was a member of the "Purple Gang".
TSNYC wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 3:33 am
Hoping this is a good book. I’m curious what kind of sourcing material exists. Really can’t recall any racketeering trials against gang members for their gang membership so not sure there’d be a ton of trial transcripts / material to go by.
I ended with about 400-ish references- primarily law enforcement reports, news reports, and a few court cases- but you're right in that there wasn't a ton of those available. I was able, though, to find some through legal reference sources.
But overall it was a rare case in that I usually start with a lot of information that I winnow down. In this case, I had a little bit and had to expand out.
Sounds like you did a tremendous research job. Very excited and will certainly order this book
Benandjosh wrote: ↑Sun Sep 05, 2021 2:15 pm
Has Jiggs been online lately. Used to like his posts, gave a in depth street view of harlem in 50s 60s 70s. Hope he's OK.
I was wondering same thing. Hed usually be posting by now....
