There's always been a strong connection between the Westside and the Outfit. Milwaukee Phil was originally from Yonkers, which is just north of the Bronx and kinda like an honorary "sixth borough."

Anyway, he always maintained close ties to the Bronx and Westchester wings of the Genovese Family. He was particularly close to a skipper named Larry "Black" Centore. I've heard that the Genovese guys and the Outfit guys would often vacation together out in Palm Springs. This was as far back as the '40s and '50s.

As an aside, there are more retired mob guys living in Palm Springs than just about anywhere else. I'm talking about guys who are literally a hundred years old .