I've learned that that whole District Council concept for LiUNA was developed by a "confident" of Joe Todaro to help the Buffalo family exert influence & control over Laborers in vast areas of NY State.NickleCity wrote: ↑Thu Dec 10, 2020 8:35 pm From: ‘A Laborers’ Legacy:’ The Sons Of Peter Capitano Help Lead Laborers Local 210 ‘Into The Future’ - Father’s ‘Legacy Carried On’ By Business Manager Peter & His Twin Brother, Sam, Now An International LIUNA Rep
Published Tuesday, September 22, 2020
by WNYLaborToday.com Editor-Publisher Tom Campbell
Sam Capitano is Special International Rep for the Northeast Region, overseeing seven Laborers Locals in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Olean, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca and New York State’s North Country, which totals a combined 4,500 Members.“.. I .However, it was in the 90s that the Local was investigated by the Federal Government for charges stemming from alleged “ties with organized crime.”
Soon afterward, the Buffalo Laborers Local found itself placed under trusteeship for several years until the early 2000s.
While Peter Capitano had fingers pointed at him by the Federal Government, he was never charged with any formal crimes, his sons said.
“They ‘portrayed’ my Dad as a ‘mobster, a criminal.’ ‘He didn’t handle it well, but he still had his pension,’” Sam said.
The Federal Government’s investigation left Peter Capitano “with a bitterness,” son Peter said...”
Snip
“... Never thinking he had a chance, Sam ran for Business Manager in 2007 and won by 22 votes...”
Snip
“... Said Peter: “The vote was held from (8 a.m.) to midnight. It was tied and there were only forty ballots left - ‘and every single one went to Sam.’ ‘I will never forget that night.’ I said, ‘Bro, you pulled this off.’ ‘I was so proud.’ For my Dad, ‘it was vindication and Sam won it fair and square.’”
The Capitano Brothers were prepared for the coming cries of so-called and unfair negative influence that lingered from the past after the results of the election were made public...”
Link to article: https://www.wnylabortoday.com/news/2020 ... liuna-rep/
From what I've been told they put Peter and Sam Fresinia into positions in this provisional Council to do their bidding. (See: https://laborers.tripod.com/laborersorg ... 14-98.html .) Additionally, Peter G. Gerace Sr. was the president and secretary-treasurer of the LIUNA from the time it was established in 1992 until it was disbanded in July 1994 and his wife Linda had a paid position in the Upstate NY District Council (See: https://jimmcgough.tripod.com/complaint.htm ).
Interesting that the District Council concept has been revived and Sam Capitano is now the Business manager of Update New York Laborers District Council developed by Todaro and his "confident." His brother Peter is an Auditor and Business Manage of Local 210 and Sam is the President of Local 210. Sam Capitano also serves a trustee on the following: New York State Laborers’-Employers’ Cooperation & Education Trust; New York State Laborers’ Health & Safety Trust Fund; and the New York State Laborers’ Political Action Committee.
Perhaps this is just coincidence and Sam is just a good manager committed to being a good influence for the Laborers' cause. Or perhaps he is still connected, after all he is a close friend with Joseph Bell III who has been described in court papers as an associate and perhaps a member Italian Organized Crime.
For Bella quote see: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... 4f1ed.htmlIn his supplemental brief, Eoannou said, “Mr. Bella is accused of being a drug trafficker and a mob associate or member of ‘Italian Organized Crime,’ yet in three years the government has failed to prove he was a member of organized crime or that he sold drugs for money.”
