From the turn of the twentieth century, the organized crime outfits that have become known as “the five families” of New York have had their share of family ties, family feuds, and family affairs. Together they carved up the biggest city in the nation into their own personal fiefdoms. A slogan that appeared on T-shirts a few years ago in Greenwich Village summed it up best: “New York City, Family Owned and Operated Since 1920.” This chapter will look at the history and the cast of characters of these infamous crime families.Epicenter of the Mafia New York gained a lot from the immigrants that streamed into the country at the turn of the twentieth century—future business leaders, politicians, doctors, and so on. As discussed in previous chapters, there was also the dark underside of the Mafia. New York was the breeding ground for thousands of mobsters over the years. It was a natural place for the mob to work their trade. As an economic powerhouse, New York also had a strong union presence, easy pickings for the mob.
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