Answer: Who was the boss on Staten Island?

Here's an interesting question for our forum members...
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During the 1940s-1960s era, New York's "fifth" borough of Staten Island was largely an underdeveloped community of residential neighborhoods and small businesses. Nonetheless it still boasted a thriving underworld Mecca where many mobsters resided with their wives and kids.

But among the many mafiosi who lived and operated on Staten Island over those early years which particular fellow was largely considered to be the "top dog" and a first among equals operating the rackets in that borough?

1) Joseph (Staten Island Joe) Riccobono
2. Alexander (Alex the Ox) DiBrizzi
3. Antonio (Tough Tony) Anastasio
4. Constantino (Big Paul) Castellano
5. Giorgio (Georgie Gillette) Gigliotti

Staten Island Joe?

Since Salvatore Celambrino of the Genovese is not a choice, I will go with Joseph Riccobono of the Gambino family.

We will be posting up the answer to my question within a day or so. Wanna allow others time to guess who they think

THE CORRECT ANSWER:

With the exception of Anthony Anastasio the other four mafiosi all resided on Staten Island over the years but only used the area as a "bedroom community." Each man was primarily active in the other boroughs.

Born in 1892, the man who was arguably the most powerful mobster on Staten Island for decades was Mangano/Anastasia "capo di decina" Alexander (The Ox) DiBrizzi.

Together with his three nephews, the notorious D'Alessio brothers, "Alex the Ox" controlled most of the more prominent rackets including ironclad control over the S.I. waterfront piers through International Longshoremen's Union Local #920 based in the Stapleton section. He also controlled bookmaking, numbers, jukebox and coin-vending machine rackets, and cargo theft.

Would love to see a future story on Alex DiBrizzi, Dominick DiQuarto, and Dominick Alongi.

nobody is the boss of a borough

Of course not Bronx. Many guys operated on S.I. from several crews. What I said was that he was considered the "top dog" and a first among equals operating within the borough. Basically he was recognized as the biggest mafioso running rackets there.

@NYMafia
Have you done anything on Paulie ' ham' Correale, on your site??
Comes up a few times in the Valachi papers. Luke capo on the famous mob St. 116th
Or had a gambling thing there.

Yes, in fact I wrote a nice biography about Paul Correale. (on a personal note Paulie Ham was said to be a fuck of a nice guy. Good guy, by street standards). Its up on my website under Lucchese Family membership