LONG DEAD, YET BANDIED AROUND BY SOME AS IF THEY STILL EXIST.


In my opinion, any semblance of a structured, hierarchal borgata still actively operating in Cleveland is lone gone.

I feel the exact same way about Pittsburgh, Pittston, Colorado, Milwaukee, Rockford, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Tampa and a few other cities. Each of these Families died a long time ago. But their names were continually bandied around for awhile longer, as though they were still viable entities. They are not!

As far as the Families known to still have a small number of members alive, such as the New England, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis and Philadelphia crews? Well, in recent years, we have seen some of their soldiers operating either legitimate businesses or engaging in some very limited criminal activity. Very limited.

But, because of cultural changes and the legalizing of what was once considered previously illegal activities, even these Families are now suspect as to their “health” and current operating status. Are they active? With viable hierarchal structured Families?…. I don’t know about all that.

Over the last 10 to 15 years, there has been limited, [very limited] evidence of a few members engaging in criminal or suspicious activities. But as I say, for the most part, that too, was well over a decade ago.

Like the old saying goes, “Where’s there is smoke, there is usually fire.” But there’s been no smoke, or spark, let alone any raging fire….So there’s that.

If I had to bet money, I’d bet that for all intents and purposes, Detroit and St. Louis are now completely dead in the water also.

As far as Chicago goes? They’re hooked up to a respirator and the cemetery grave diggers have already dug the hole, just waiting to drop the corpse in.

That only leaves New England and Philadelphia and the New York/New Jersey crews left.

As we discussed above, the “Providence” faction of NE is most likely dead already, with only their “Boston” faction hanging on for dear life.

That leaves Philadelphia and New York/New Jersey.

To me, although there are still plenty of their inducted members and associates still alive and well, any semblance of structured racket activity (to me, all least,) is waning quickly. So, IMO, Philly is 90% gone too!

That leaves the infamous Five Families of New York and New Jersey. I won’t even count the DeCavalcante clan of Elizabeth, because to me, they fall into the same category as Philadelphia and New England do.

The Five Families and alive and operating. But are they well and going strong? No way! No How!

Because of their large collective membership, these five borgatas will continue on, in one form or another, for many years to come. But currently, even their modus operandi is fast becoming almost unrecognizable, compared to what once was.