I think the very opposite is true.
The alleged irrelevance of contemporary American LCN has been soapboxed for decades now. And clearly exaggerated.

Although it’s undeniable that we won’t ever see a resurgence to pre-RICO levels of power, most of what we see when we cut through the above mentioned “mainstream mindset” confirms the surprising relevance and influence of present-day LCN.

Considering the amount of arrests, setbacks, takedowns, informants, etc. the fact that the American LCN is agreed to be among the main criminal subcultures in the American Northeast is very telling.

Its eclectic and adaptive nature has proven successful despite the constant attacks coming from the government.

Few reporters and researchers dare to challenge the “status quo” rethoric that paints the Mob as a decadent freak show. But those who do are often proven right.

Anna Sergi comes to mind as one of them. People laughed at the idea that Buffalo still had any trace of an even semi-structured activity, yet we now know that LCN activity in that area is not as “dead” as expected. According to many, the ports of NJ and NY should have been completely Mob-free since the late 90s. We know that’s not the case.

Smaller crime families were predicted to be defunct by now. Yet the Colombos, Philly and even the DeCavs are still around. Licking their wounds and limping, sure, but not gone.

Many scolded those who suggested that zips would still be interested in setting up shop here, but Sicilians get busted quite regularly, as recently as 2019. And Ndrangheta connections pop up often as well.

We were told that no young blood was being made. But all indictments show a fairly decent amount of younger people involved. Ceremonies have been held in almost all families in the last decade. And when the books are closed is because the family chooses to.

As is usual in academia/media/government, when the so-called “experts” are proven wrong they proceed to appropriate the new truth without ever admitting they were wrong in the first place. Or simply refuse to change their minds and double down on their flawed theories.

We know crime families’ hierarchies have opted for a more subtle governance. Guys with “old school” charisma seat in every panel.
We know that the connections between the US and Italy have been strengthen in the last decade. Despite obvious set backs.

Considering the technology, LEO manpower, and the many other challenges faced by current era wiseguys, their dynamism and variety of activities prove (once again) how their “death” has been largely exaggerated.

The Mob’s main adversary is its own mighty past. People keep comparing this generation of mobsters to their forefathers but it’s an unfair comparison given how much society has changed since then.

All of the other, newer, criminal organizations don’t face this issue.