Even if they weren't made yet, Merlino and co. were the next generation of Philly mobsters. That was there claim. Stanfa was the "outsider" appointed by NY while they were homegrown. And the NY families were starting to crumble by 1992. They weren't going to fight a war in Philadelphia with all there problems back home. Merlino, on the other hand, had no reservations about using violence regardless of LE attention or instability.