Jace, with all due respect, what do you think protection money is? Legit business owners had to pay so that their businesses wouldn't be destroyed. If they operated in someone's territory, they had to pay. These were people who had no ties to the mob. And I'm not talking about loansharking types of extortion which is something totally different because those people borrowed money. But people who were trying to earn an honest living had no choice if they wanted to succeed. So they were extorted. And it wasn't only in the early 1900s...it continued for years and years and years.
To even conjecture that it's a myth the mob didn't extort legit people is ludicrous.
I am in New York for about 12 years now, and have spoken to many people who were around back then, None can recall an honest business being extorted. With all respect, I prefer to go by what people I have spoken to say over government reports or news stories.
