Hey guys I was wondering what input you guys had on Steve mazzone
He deff looks the part and is a stand up guy , I was just curious to see everyone's input.

Stand Up guy. Did 7 years in the can in the merlino case. Looks like he may be acting boss right now.

Seems to be one of the harder members of the Merlino Gang, releated to Joe and Dom Grande I believe, I agree with Vinny they say he's the acting nowadays

Lets see if he have a 12 year run like uncle Joe

The question is if Uncle Joe beats it does he Mazzone put up a fight?

If Uncle Joe beat it he need to ride off into the sunny set.

I tend to agree. But if you believe what he told the feds that he didnt have the money for an attorney then he may need to get back to earnin. If you believe him that is.

Was thinking the same thing Vinnie - says he can't pay Jacobs. I wonder if the guys on the street are dropping off envelopes at their house or if they think he's done for. That could create some tension of he walks.
Mazzone was driving around recently in a brand new Mercedez. Last I heard he was working at a family friends restaurant in South Philly - Malones but not sure anymore. Either way it's a nice ride.

Malone's is his father-in-law's joint I believe

Yes Phriction think you are right with that - if you have never seen the place - very non descript on the outside - could use a little renovation but have heard the food is great.

I'm always intrigued when people say 'he should retire.'

Why?

It's not as if now the FBI suddenly KNOWS he's the boss and is going to chase him. They knew almost from day 1 and yet for the past 12yrs you haven't heard about people calling for his retirement.

In fact the opposite. Last 12years people said nothing but how good a job he's doing, low key, rebuilding etc.

Now after a gambling trial people call for him to throw in the towel?

Nobodies calling for him to retire. Hes 74 and he was talking about retiring to Florida before he got indicted. Mabye he wants to retire. But unlikely now, because when he gets out he may need the money.

Not cailling for his retirement but if he beat the case in Oct,he may want to hand it over to someone else,and live out his day stress free.

It's entirely possible he lied to the court so that the government would pay his lawyer costs for the retrial.

The only person really saying he's done a good job is George Anastasia and that's only at the fact that he avoided drawing attention to himself like Merlino did, Realistically he's a greedy guy who never had any power until Joey gave it to him he was nothing but a bookie who pulled a trigger for Scarfo and got himself made, Peole speculate alot about why Long John was whacked and I believe one of the reasons was jealousy uncle joe never would or could make the kind of money Martorano made he was one hell of a money maker

Surely rebuilding a devastated family, going to ground, minimizing violence are all positive traits (mob wise)?

A 12 year run speaks for itself doesn't it?

He pulled the trigger for scarfo but everyone starts somewhere. Chin pulled it for Genovese. And regards greed, it's the mob. Find me a guy who isn't.

But I'm curious that the view of uncle joe isn't universal.

Where do people stand? Is/was his tenure a successful one?

Nothing will change, before merlino went away he placed joe as a front boss, and if joe beats it he will still be the front guy and everyone else will fall in line, and joe have money, he knows the case is week why waste it

I think Uncle Joe only cared about the money and that's it.He did not seem like the powerful problem solving boss.He wanted things to run smoothe and make money.Like the feds said he was the last man standing back in the early 2000's.supposetley you can't touch a made man and that time Angelina got his butt kicked by that 10th and o guy his punishment was to say he was sorry.I mean Ligambi knew how it worked but he just seemed content on making money.Mazzone seems like more of a hands on leader that you would have to answer to if you broke the rules.

One things for sure, Mazzone won't last half as long as Ligambi as acting boss.

Why do u think that is something u can say definatively?

Why does everyone think Ligambi is acting?

Do people honestly think anyones kicking up to Joey? Does anyone honestly think NY recognizes Joey? Does anyone really think Joey's going to move back to Philly in 5 years and run it again?

What basis apart from one off the cuff remark at a lunch do people have for calling Joey Boss?

None. Its just speculation. The comment by ligambi saying joey could make any1 he wants when he comes back certainly implies that it was the plan for joey to be boss when he got outa jail but that was years ago, things can change. As for notion that ligambi was a "front boss" for merlino is pretty far fetched. All the evidence points to ligambi being in control of the family for over a decade and getting his tributes from all the captains just like any other boss would. Everything else about merlino coming back to be boss is pretty much speculation.

It's not speculation. Merlino was identified as the boss in the 2012 indictment from info that came from the Stefanelli tapes. In other words, Merlino apparently retained the official position while Ligambi was the official underboss/acting boss while Merlino was away.

I just meant that it was speculation about merlino returning to philadelphia.

Mazzone is a lot more hands off than what ligambi ever was. Ligambi took kicks directly from some soldiers and associates. He may not be flashy but still asking for trouble. I dont seem to think mazzone will last long either tho.

Isn't that better than the wars and killings that almost destroyed them during the Scarfo and Stanfa eras?

Its a fact when merlino went to prison he made joe acting boss, merlino ordered 3 murders from prison through joe

Yes Mulberry it was more quiet out there with Ligambi as boss or acting boss as some say but like a lot of posters said in a blog about Scarfo Sr's mentality it was way more la cosa nostra back then.Nobody from NY is going to sit down with Uncle Joe or Joey,I'm sure those days are over with.I know there will always be a mob but it just seems like Philly has seen its better days.

John gambino sat down with uncle joe, thats what the steffanelli tapes during the trial was all about.

Ironically Philly is the youngest family of the ten active remaining ones. They're not into anything big, but I could see the scarfo guys picking up the pieces of what's left