Gene Gotti, brother of mob boss John, finishes 29-year prison term this month

[Lupara]

I think a good argument can be made saying the Five Families in 2018 aren't weaker than they were in 2008. l think they are stabilized for over a decade. They will still be there 25 years from now.

[Wiseguy]

The NY families still had their grips on various unionsPogo

In 1998 still? I wonder if Wiseguy agrees with this.

Yes. Generally speaking, I wouldn't go back into the 1990's when comes to whether the NY families are "stronger than they have been in years" discussion. Post-early 2000s, an argument could be made. But going back to the 1990s, the NY LCN still had control of several industries (and unions involved) that has since been removed or at least diminished. Though one could say by the late 1990s much of the damage was done. By then mob control of the Garment Center, JFK Airport, Fulton Fish Market, and Javits Center was all but gone. Their control of the waste hauling industry was also vastly diminished.

The NY families still had their grips on various unionsPogo

In 1998 still? I wonder if Wiseguy agrees with this.

They still do today, Lupara.

Yeah, the diminished-but-not-gone areas would include construction/demolition, trucking, waste hauling/recycling, and the waterfront.

[JCB1977]

The NY families still had their grips on various unionsPogo

In 1998 still? I wonder if Wiseguy agrees with this.

Yes. Generally speaking, I wouldn't go back into the 1990's when comes to whether the NY families are "stronger than they have been in years" discussion. Post-early 2000s, an argument could be made. But going back to the 1990s, the NY LCN still had control of several industries (and unions involved) that has since been removed or at least diminished. Though one could say by the late 1990s much of the damage was done. By then mob control of the Garment Center, JFK Airport, Fulton Fish Market, and Javits Center was all but gone. Their control of the waste hauling industry was also vastly diminished.

The NY families still had their grips on various unionsPogo

In 1998 still? I wonder if Wiseguy agrees with this.

They still do today, Lupara.

Yeah, the diminished-but-not-gone areas would include construction/demolition, trucking, waste hauling/recycling, and the waterfront.

“Severely” diminished in regards to unions today. They don’t have the GRIP today that they once had.

The 5 families are making tens of millions of dollars per year less vs the old days in construction alone.

[slimshady_007]

I think a good argument can be made saying the Five Families in 2018 aren't weaker than they were in 2008. l think they are stabilized for over a decade. They will still be there 25 years from now.

I agree that certain families have stabilized. Especially the gambinos. In 2008 after ‘operation old bridge’ a good number of guys ended up doin time so the family assigned a 3-man ruling panel. 10 years later a lot of guys from operation old bridge r out and it seems the family is way more organized.

[Pogo The Clown]

“Severely” diminished in regards to unions today. They don’t have the GRIP today that they once had.

The 5 families are making tens of millions of dollars per year less vs the old days in construction alone.

To put it in perpective Mikey DiLeonardo said when he ran the Gambinos construction rackets the family was only making 1/3 of what they were making in the early 80s pre-Commission case. And that was back in the 90s. Add in his own defection and 20 years worth of defections, indictments and union cleanup and oversight and it is probably peanuts compared to what it once was.


Pogo

[JCB1977]

“Severely” diminished in regards to unions today. They don’t have the GRIP today that they once had.

The 5 families are making tens of millions of dollars per year less vs the old days in construction alone.

To put it in perpective Mikey DiLeonardo said when he ran the Gambinos construction rackets the family was only making 1/3 of what they were making in the early 80s pre-Commission case. And that was back in the 90s. Add in his own defection and 20 years worth of defections, indictments and union cleanup and oversight and it is probably peanuts compared to what it once was.

The Feds will do anything to put him back in the can, he’ll be on constant surveillance and be at risk by younger informants. The ones that last the longest are the ones who know when to walk away and live quietly.

Pogo

[Confederate]

“Severely” diminished in regards to unions today. They don’t have the GRIP today that they once had.

The 5 families are making tens of millions of dollars per year less vs the old days in construction alone.

To put it in perpective Mikey DiLeonardo said when he ran the Gambinos construction rackets the family was only making 1/3 of what they were making in the early 80s pre-Commission case. And that was back in the 90s. Add in his own defection and 20 years worth of defections, indictments and union cleanup and oversight and it is probably peanuts compared to what it once was.

The Feds will do anything to put him back in the can, he’ll be on constant surveillance and be at risk by younger informants. The ones that last the longest are the ones who know when to walk away and live quietly.

Pogo

1,000% correct on all accounts. Prime example: A guy named John DiFronzo.

[UTC]

Good article but the mob’s downfall is a bit exaggerated in the article. Lcn is in a better state now than what it was in 20 years ago. There’s plenty of rackets on the street.

That may be the most irresponsible statement ever written on this forum. Are you okay Slim? In no way, shape or form is LCN in better shape than it was 20 years ago. IT WILL CEASE TO EXIST at some point. The end is near, even in NY. You wanna read or learn about a powerful LCN/N'Drangheta, start watching and reading about Canada and Australia, their OC is much stronger than the U.S.

Let's say Slim is 100% wrong for the sake of discussion. What does that have to do with a lack of responsibility? Nobody is harmed, misled or unduly influenced by the statement. He's not shouldering any responsibility here. He's giving his opinion.

[Confederate]

I understand what you are saying now...However, when you say Italian neighborhoods, not like before where immigrants came to NYC and had 6 kids living in a tiny apartment in a tenement building. Where the streets had only Italian speaking residents and every corner a bunch of immigrant kids trying to find their way in America. America has shown that any person of race or color can be successful. Anybody could go to college today or tech school or have an apprenticeship. Back then when my family came over, Italians couldn't get honest work in Steel Mills or other manufacturing companies for the mere reason they were Italian. There are more options today for Italians.

I agree in the general sense and not over-focusing on Italian neighborhoods. Rather, the overall assimilation of Italian-Americans into mainstream society, of which maybe Italian enclaves disappearing is only the result. The has attrition-by-assimilation has led to declines in both quantity and quality of membership, and has been more responsible for killing off crime families than anything else. Law enforcement has only helped the process along. That said, the predictions of the mob's demise we saw in the past (by even the most knowledgeable sources) proved premature in many cases.

Again, you have to seperate the New York 5 from the other Families OUTSIDE of New York. The predictions about those Families (outside New York) were right on. New York will just take more time because of sheer numbers but eventually I would not be surprised if New Yok ended up being the New York 2 meaning the Genovese's and the Gambino's. This will take much longer.

Or eventually consolidate to to form one strong family like the outfit, totally change their business model. Won’t be done at this day in age. Crime will always be there but LCN as we’ve known it is going by the wayside.

The quality of the younger LCN guys is very low in general. A lot of the younger guys are pill addicts with no discipline. The smaller Families outside of the New York 5 have basically been reduced to glorified street gangs.

[Mikeymike12]

Any word on Gene since his release ? Think he is just going to retire or join back up with the gambino’s. Isn’t his old buddy John Carneglia been released as well?

Heard many times about him having a huge book out in the street ,who was in control of it while Gene was in prison ?

[100100]

Who knows. But there were reporters staking him out for a week or so after his release. Im just under the assumption hes retired and no need to get back in the life. Its a whole new ball game now.

[100100]

And I believe the book you're referring to may have been from a conversation he had with someone back in 01. Alot could change in 17 years but there hasnt been much new talk about the "book"other than the conversation.

[Mikeymike12]

Book I was talking referring to was his loan and sports book

[Wiseguy]

Book I was talking referring to was his loan and sports book

I think it was just a loanshark operation, if I remember right.

[Ivan]

The smaller Families outside of the New York 5 have basically been reduced to glorified street gangs.

Yeah, either that, or they turned into fraternal organizations of rich old men who used to be full-time criminals decades ago (this is what Chicago and Detroit are now, basically).