Buffalo/Ontario Mob Acitivity

[Newyorkempire]

If these two groups have any connections whatsoever (even down to a Colombo using a laundrymat that Buffalo owns), there would be formal introductions made, that's the mafia at play as a network. It's not exciting or sexy. It's as simple and easy as a Buffalo member attending a Gambino party and encountering one of the few remaining New Orleans' members (or a Chicago member or a Philly member, take your pick). They'll be formally introduced as brothers and what, if anything, they decide to do is their own business.

A very knowledgeable and reliable source has told me that Russell Papalardo in Cleveland still enjoys this sort of treatment as a "brother" in this way by other mafia figures and Cleveland is still regarded as "represented" amid mafia matters by him even though the family is defunct and he's the only made guy still living.

It's truly the essence of what makes the mafia the mafia. If criminality were the sole factor "the Italians" would have died out long ago.

One of the more mind-blowing epiphanies I've had about the mafia is that the reflexive and cynical they're-just-after-money take on the mafia, while having a grain of truth to it, is for the most part pseudo-sophisticated bullshit, while the corny Joe Bonanno thing about it being an old tradition of brotherhood/honor/respect is more or less true.

But when you think of it as a network, what incentive is there to let it die? That could equate to keeping communication with Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh (if there is anything left) and New York. It doesn't have to be Papalardo plotting to "rebuild" (ie a Family structure complete with captains with Moltistanti-style grunt 'made men') which is what most outsiders would expect and in fact, would argue he's nonviable if he doesn't.

Cleveland is a really fascinating example of the network that encompasses associates, legit businessmen, labor, unmade criminals etc. surviving the family's "death." What was once a "structured crime family" has evolved into a network of shady but mostly legit guys centered on a certain staffing agency, with a lot of familiar surnames popping up if you examine who's a part of that network.

Anyway, I would be shocked if Papalardo and Todaro were not personally acquainted, given the above factors and the fact that their cities are "right down the road" from one another.

Allot of these guys where connected from back when the unions were still under control . Allot of Buffalo / cleveland connections over the years
I know loose has been to Buffalo for some meetings I even have a photo of loose in La nova pizzeria hat .

As I said. I know him and Sidari know each other. I'm sure he knows Papalardo. Great authentic as it gets Little Italy. 3 hours from Buffalo. Borgata is a great spot. Guy named Tommy owns it.

Can you share pic of Loose??

Borgata no interest is going there , maybe the food is good? , never heard anyone really talk about it ,
everyone is pretty much dead now anyways ,

No don’t want it spread all over the internet family members is in the photo who are still alive , if they died before me then I will post it

Foods good. Cheap drinks. Card games. Is an actual Italian bar. Old school feel

[Ivan]

Borgata no interest is going there , maybe the food is good? , never heard anyone really talk about it ,
everyone is pretty much dead now anyways ,

No don’t want it spread all over the internet family members is in the photo who are still alive , if they died before me then I will post it

If you have a Windows computer, maybe search it for "Snipping Tool" and use that thing to crop out everyone but Loose?

[B.]

Iacobacci swearing fealty with a La Nova hat -- nice.

[NickleCity]

Connections are sources of pride for mafiosi they’re badges of honor, cultivated and even passed down through generations in some cases. In modern times now that these guys are far removed from the Sicilian towns their fathers and grandfathers came from many of these cross family relationships are formed in prison. It’s not a stretch at all to think a member or a trusted associate of the Colombo family has a connection/the ability to reach out to a member or associate of the Todaro family to pass messages or set up meetings.

Pretty sure Bifulco was locked up with Anthony Donato

If true, that is a very good detail to know. Johnny makes a great point that prison relationships are a huge factor in these connections, especially today. You see these group photos of guys from different Families and that is just scratching the surface. Guys who do good time together end up like brothers.

Proof in point about prison relationships from the Gerace/Bongiovanni case.