So I ran this poll on my site www.fivefamiliesnyc.com, check out the results below:

Yes - 275 (61%)
No - 103 (22%)
He should leave the life while he can - 72 (16%)
Total votes: 450

I concur with the Yes crew and believe Skinny Joey has the final say in Philly through his buddies like Mazzone, Chang, etc.

What do you guys think?

I've seen nothing (yet) to suggest he could overrule Ligambi. People are always so eager to crown a new king.

There is no concrete evidence yet, but it very well could be true if Merlino wants to step up and be the lightning rod for the feds I don't think amyone in the organization will disapprove and plus he is in Florida so he would't have direct control

With Ligambi's people in jail, I believe Merlino does. There was never tention between those two anyway and with Merlino being boss prior and Mazzone back on the street I believe he and his guys do have final say. The only "evidence" really that would lead some to believe he does is the tape with Mazzone talking loudly with Phil Ligambi. But that really doesn't prove anything. I just think its the natural course for these guys.

i dont think that it would be far fetched at all to believe that he might have the final say from florida on certain things, although being so far away means somebody else obviously makes the day to day calls. when a small family like philly loses most of the top rank administration its much easier to restructure things as there are less factions to negotiate with, alot different than say one of the five families as they are made up of many powerful groups or factions that have different interests which could lead to more conflict. this is just my opinion and not fact but i think things will be alot more defined there in the next 6 months.

People forget that Merlino was acting boss before he went away. Ligambi is the official boss. And there really isn't a Ligambi faction or Merlino faction. They're both from the same group. Merlino would be the obvious one to take over - A) if he wants to; and B) however much time Ligambi does, but there's no point in considering it as fact until it happens.

ligambi referenced him on that wiretap in asymbolic kind of way. everyone knows who has the power but he just says that to take heat off himself. to put it in lehmann's terms its like the way tony soprano keeps references jr as the boss of this family to every1 when every1 knows this is bs.

I'm not sure what you're saying exactly but, since those tapes came out, the feds now have enough reason to believe Merlino was the official boss all along and Ligambi was acting boss. So, in answer to the original question that started this thread, yes, Merlino appears to have the final say. But Ligambi obviously had a lot of authority; including to hold off making guys Merlino wanted until Merlino got out of prison and could make them himself.

only 1 wiretap in a decade referring to this? im v skeptical about it. i believe he's just saying that to deflect heat. after a decade merlino is unlikely to be in any real power in my opinion but who knows.. theres no way he could come back and rule - would be a media circus. suprised a movie hasnt come out about him actually

Skinny Joey is still it. He is just applying some of the Machiavellian principles now, finally. imo

Guess the almighty feds had that one wrong uh ivey? You seemed pretty sure of yourself when I said I thought merlino had final say

It's an interesting question, we haven't heard about Philly guys being seen in Florida and my guess is he is being closely watched down there. He also seemed to get in and out of town petty quick when his dad passed rather than hanging around for a few days to lay some alliances down.

Joe could have just been laying blame/responsibility in that wire taped conversation or using it as an excuse to not make the guys supposedly Joey wanted made..

I think it was a simple arraignment. Ligambi was given complete control until Merlino got out of prison. Hence him putting off making those guys and letting Merlino do it. It fits with Ligambi's personality as a low key guy.

I don't think we will ever really know. Speculating only gets you so far, unless Joey gets indicted or something it's pretty unclear. To me anyway

Street Guys: 1

Google Guys: 0

Sorry, Ivy. But I know you can take a joke .

Ever?

You'll know as soon as someone gets arrested for it. And someone always gets arrested for it.

You guys know I don't follow Philly too closely, but I have to believe it's Merlino.

He's the right age. He had the title before he went away. He did the time like a man. And from what I understand, he still has a crew of crazies loyal to him.

And most importantly, having the job apparently means something to him. I don't think it does to Ligambi. He'd probably trade it in a minute if it meant beating his current case.

Then again what is there left to lead for Joey? Sure he's more discreet now, but I believe that once damion or nicodemo flips its over. And it will happen, this day and age someone's going to flip. Only a matter of time, and I'm no expert or tell all on this shit, but I believe a storms going to hit south Philly soon.

Yes, I can take a joke. But I would point out a couple things.

First, the guys who were saying Merlino was still the boss didn't know that. It was a speculation on their part that ended up being right for once. Even a blind man is going to hit the bulls eye sooner or later.

Second, consider the fact that we wouldn't even know Merlino was the boss if it wasn't for the FBI. They received new information, they released it, and now we know. So people can hardly use this as a reason to criticize the feds, especially considering it's very much the exception to the rule.

Street guys: 1

Google guys: 1

Tied up

How do you know it was speculation on their part?? YOU DON'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE!! OR WHAT THEY KNOW! I find it hilarious that you try to say if it wasn't for the FBI we wouldn't know Merlino was the boss. Just becasue you and the FBI didn't say so until recently. You and the FBI got it wrong and now your making excuses. Your a walking contradiction.

Spmob is the best Philly poster.

My man Dicknose is technically from the Philly suburbs. Plus, he's a pazzo. But I love him anyway.

Oh, and that guy 22 is great, too. But I think he's a Florida guy now.

Ivy had a Philly cheesesteak once. And he has a picture of Will Smith up on his wall. And he does the Carlton dance like nobody's business!

And don't get me wrong. I learned a lot from you along the way due to your research and we need great posters like you on these forums. And I have never said this to you before so don't come off all crazy. You live in Utah. There are going to be some things you just don't know or understand and thats fine. I know to not listen to everything I hear in South Philly. I take what I know, what I hear and what I read and form my own opinions. Not everything you read is true pal, from the FBI or otherwise.

I love your posts. Your one of the only reasons I been coming back here lately. You know how to lighten the mood. And you know your shit.

That's honestly what I aim for, Buddy. It's possible to be funny without being mean, starting a fight, and ruining an entire thread for the rest of the board.

Hey Pizzaboy I just saw that,thanks man I like that.

So how is the Philly family here in 2013? I'm sure they don't have their hands in near as much as even the lowly Colombo's in NY but would they be comparable to Chicago?

They have approximately 50 made guys, divided into three geographical groups in order of size Philly, South Nj, and North Nj , I'd define them as the most "Visible" of the families outside NY

pretty accurate, but i believe they have 2 crews in philly, one exclusively in the city itself, and the other with some stuff also going on in the surrounding counties, primarily bucks and montgomery.