This is an article about a criminal who believes in stereotypical images of the past.His attitude and criminal intent don`t represent anyone else of ANY other ethnicity. The mention of the 'Sopranos' fictional account still irritate me.Little Italy has long been a diminishing tourist trap with 'Italian-American' fronts,images while most waiters.cooks and most owners are not "Eyetalian",as a matter of fact,i believe that Spanish is more prevalent in those couple of blocks of what used to be an Italian immigrants ghetto. The Chinese keep on owning and extending their imprint while other investors are reaping financial benefits in this other over hyped,old,rat infested area.Robert De Niro`s family of friends investors is a big example of that. All former Italian American 'hoods' are diminishing or have become extinct,vanished. From St Lous,Baltimore,Philly,Hartford,and even locally,in the Bronx,Manhattan and and the last fortress in Bensonhurst,Brooklyn where we lived for a short stint. Even there Eastern and Middle eastern ,Russian and,of course,Chinese have taken over as too many Italians,after several generations of residing there,moved out to L.I. ,Pa,Florida,NC,SC ,Arizona,etcc. With this ethnic relocation we don`t see,hear their crimes of a couple generations ago,now we`re represented by local Mayors,county execs some governors and DAs. Movies,and HBO don`t have much to do with 'our' reality,and neither does this middle aged punk.
3
So typical of NY Times to spin a story to implicate Mafia and organized crime to Little Italy. And so maligning of the hard working merchants earning honest incomes in family owned businesses there. The article borders on racism and is a story typical of the NY Times and their journalists (shall I add ignorant journalists) writing stories that are, in essence, false, if not irrelevant. You continue to lose confidence in many who once thought of the NY Times with great integrity. That integrity is lost along with a lot of readers.
4
Implicate? Implicate? Are you Serious? The place prides itself on being a shrine to the wise guys and tough guys of The Sopranos, the Goodfellas and the rest. The attitude may be tongue in cheek, it may be marinated in irony, but it isn't subtle, and it isn't apologetic. Lighten up man. There isn't anything offensive in the story that a sense of humor wouldn't mitigate.
18
Are there any other racial or ethnic groups that this scenario would apply to? Stories relating to the FALN or maybe oriental gangs, Jewish organized crime in Brighton Beach or maybe the BLA? Could it be that Italian American stereo typical stories are less likely to ignite PC issues that control what we can publicly express?
3
The Mafia was never glamorous, and it still ain't.
Crime, violence... Nothing that I wanna be around...
Crime, violence... Nothing that I wanna be around...
3
The Mafia definitely ain't what it used to be. This two bit punk, stabs somebody over a girl, doesn't even kill him. No drive-by, no arson, just a crummy stabbing. Guy probably ain't even connected.
In other news, body washed up tied to a cinder block, it's looking like the Mafia isn't even sure how much weight it takes to keep a guy at the bottom of the river. When ya send a guy to sleep with the fishes, he's supposed to sink.
Oh it's sad to see how much things have changed, but whaddya gonna do, am I right? Fuggeddaboutit.
In other news, body washed up tied to a cinder block, it's looking like the Mafia isn't even sure how much weight it takes to keep a guy at the bottom of the river. When ya send a guy to sleep with the fishes, he's supposed to sink.
Oh it's sad to see how much things have changed, but whaddya gonna do, am I right? Fuggeddaboutit.
21
As legendary Murder Incorporated hitman Pittsburgh Phil a.k.a. Harry Stauss once said after one of his victims washed up on the shore, "With this bum, you gotta be a doctor or he floats."
2
Well,there is a mafia and they`re still involved in whatever makes $,not necessarily in the USA but in Italy,unfortunately they`re involved in construction,shipping.drugs transportation,immigration,,and local and National politics,from Milano to Rome,Naples,Calabria and Sicily under different names,depending on their regional roots. Ngrangheta,Mafia,Cosa Nostra , Camorra or Sacra Unita' are the most famous and that still regularly make the front pages. I see 'Cosa Nostra
as a general term and Umbrella which includes political connections in many fields. Many politicians are involved ,or forced to do 'favors' not unlike what happens in smaller countries .These kinds of 'deals' do not exclude judges,as allies or as enemies. No matter what we choose to call them they see themselves as businessmen who want to get and sell you whatever you`re willing to pay for; Women,drugs,votes,ID ? No problema,just keep your mouth closed after having paid cash ,,in advance. .As long as politicians,of any level,are participating as associates, this kind of corruption wont go away. Fortunately,it `s not happening in the US. In memory of Judges Borsellino & Falcone.RIp.Ciao !
as a general term and Umbrella which includes political connections in many fields. Many politicians are involved ,or forced to do 'favors' not unlike what happens in smaller countries .These kinds of 'deals' do not exclude judges,as allies or as enemies. No matter what we choose to call them they see themselves as businessmen who want to get and sell you whatever you`re willing to pay for; Women,drugs,votes,ID ? No problema,just keep your mouth closed after having paid cash ,,in advance. .As long as politicians,of any level,are participating as associates, this kind of corruption wont go away. Fortunately,it `s not happening in the US. In memory of Judges Borsellino & Falcone.RIp.Ciao !
3
The most remarkable thing about this story is that there's still a Little Italy, or at least a condensed, Disneyfied version. Mulberry Street should be declared an historic district before it is completely consumed by Chinatown from the South, Nolilta from the North and greed from all directions.
32
as an American of Italian heritage,I too,
bristle at the images of the way we are
portrayed in films and popular culture.
having grown up in what was then called
"Red Hook"in Brooklyn,I knew way too many
people like the alleged perpetrator of this
senseless crime. a few drove expensive cars
and wore what we kids considered at the time
to be "snazzy"suits.they were high end thugs;
but the vast majority were cheap punks who
terrorized store owners and beat up anyone
who got in their way,whether by accident or
having mustered the guts to dare it.
most decent people in the neighborhood loathed them and avoided them as much as
possible.
I am no saint,but I hope they find this thug and make him pay for this brutal attack.
a nobody indeed!
bristle at the images of the way we are
portrayed in films and popular culture.
having grown up in what was then called
"Red Hook"in Brooklyn,I knew way too many
people like the alleged perpetrator of this
senseless crime. a few drove expensive cars
and wore what we kids considered at the time
to be "snazzy"suits.they were high end thugs;
but the vast majority were cheap punks who
terrorized store owners and beat up anyone
who got in their way,whether by accident or
having mustered the guts to dare it.
most decent people in the neighborhood loathed them and avoided them as much as
possible.
I am no saint,but I hope they find this thug and make him pay for this brutal attack.
a nobody indeed!
18
It's still called Red Hook.
2
This could be good for the tour groups, they can add the site to the walk north from the old Umberto's, past the new Umberto's, and on then it's on to the Mulberry St. Bar, the real name of which was Mare Chiaro till they had to screw it up by dropping their really cool name for something generic.
10
I'm thinking maybe Frankie ain't living here no more.
15