So Philly doesn't have to answer whatsoever these days to either the Gambinos or the Westside?
I would seriously doubt it. These families don't have the reach and control to tell him otherwise these days, much like Rizzuto did in Montreal. He made who he wanted when he wanted and didn't seem to care what the Bonanno's thought. I'm sure Merlino would do the same if he wants. It's not like we are going to see a war these days.
Great point Dixie.
But I don't understand why families like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo and New Orleans haven't made 1 guy in the last 15/20 years. I mean there should be at least a couple guys in that region who are made man material and those cities are a lot further away from NY than Philly. Would the shrinking recruitment pool be the sole reason for this?
I seem to recall an Anastasia article a few years ago that talked about the NY families wanting Ligambi to replace Mazzone and Borgesi with Staino and Massimino. But it was a suggestion, as opposed to a Chin-like edict, and the decision was ultimately his.
Attrition is far and away the biggest factor for those families not making new members. It also gets to a certain point where, even if there are some available recruits, who' left in the family doesn't see it as worth it to make new members.
