Read Rick Cowan's "Takedown" this fall. I knew (of) some of the characters in the Brooklyn-Queens garbage business but not much about these guys. Anyone got a clue what came of them after this mid 90s conviction? Any still active? New arrests, etc?

allie is still a westside skipper.

Frank,

My friends here know this and I don't really mind posting it, but I worked for Local 813 for 25 years. Ten of those years as a shop steward and the last seven as a business agent. I had to take early retirement in 2006 because of a health issue that's thankfully behind me. 813 covers private sanitation and funeral workers. I worked on the funeral side of the local, but would fill in for the garbage guys quite a bit up in Westchester and out on the Island for our sister local 282.

Anyway, that book really painted a pretty accurate picture of the Failla-Adelstein Teamsters, even if Cowan's narration was a bit egotistical (but show me a cop bio that isn't). But for the record, the book made Barretti into a much bigger fish than he actually was. The only way that guy was getting near a button was as an extra in a Scorsese movie. And Sal Benedetto was as whiny as Mayor Bloomberg. Just saying.

Wow, great insight. I kept thinking the whole time I was reading "Jesus, Sal.. just play the game". Jimmy Brown, Malangone, Frank Alocca and the rest of them really didn't come across as stupid or careless. I liked that, these days ineptitude is usually the norm but these guys kept a pretty tight shop it seems.

Okay, so the last chapter talks about how Cowan's investigation brought an end to the Mafia's infiltration to both the teamsters influence and waste management infiltration in New York City. That's bullshit and posturing isn't it?

And we may have some sort of family connection here... my dad is the business manager for a tri-state area union local. Maybe you've come across him during your career.

Sammy Gravano's testimony, which pre-dated the "Takedown" operation by almost a year, did more to remove Bernie from his seat than anything that Cowan did. Fact. But there is truth to the Teamsters being almost impossible to infiltrate today.

They're Federally mandated at every level now. I told you my pedigree there and even I had a hard time getting the neighbor kid a job driving a flour truck a couple years ago (but in the end, I did). The mob will never get next to a big time Teamster local again. Another fact. Although they're still pretty powerful in the ILA and Laborer's unions.


I dunno. Is your name really Mazola? I know some Mazolas in construction up in Yonkers. Straight shooters all the way. As a matter of fact they stood up to the Lucchese construction group a few years ago and lived to tell about it.

Yeah my Pop is a drywall man. Him and my uncle John got a small company (crew's 30-40 depending on the amount of work we got), they work mostly commercial jobs. My uncle does most of the work. When I'm done with College I'll probably spend a year or so on his crew but the plan is to eventually get in the office and start estimating jobs. Honestly the old man told me to come inside the office from the get go but I don't wana look like an asshole to the guys on the work crew.

As far as standing up to Luccheses, if he ever did, he never told me about it. But he's done a little work up Scarsdale and New Rochelle.

dont get me started on the fucking luina.lol.

by the way-pizz,sorry for the delay on the p.m. my internets been on the fritz all yesterday.

And you would. Don't ever forget that. Stick to your guns and start in the trenches, kid. It will pay you huge dividends over the years.

No problem, Brooklyn .

Yeah I think he was happy to hear I wana start out in the field. Treat the guys right, eat shit for being a college boy for a couple years, then when I eventually get promoted to the office I'll have worked long enough alongside guys for them to learn who I am and what I'm about.

I thought Allie shades was retired. But I should know better than to expect that from a west side guy. It's an obligation for life even for the older guys

hes not in the mix day to day but yeah hes still got the stripes.hes got about four guys who are capable enough to take over but it will go to the son.

Pizza was that union corrupt? I understand if you wouldn't want to say

It's a matter of public record. Just Google Local 813 + Teamsters + Jimmy Failla.

pizzaboy is correct. Comparatively speaking, there's been much fewer cases of mobbed-up Teamsters locals than ILA, Laborers, and other locals over the past decade. No doubt a result of the 1989 consent decree and over 90 mob-connected IBT members being expelled.

In the New York area, the one family that seems to have retained the most Teamsters influence is, not surprisingly, the Genovese family. Historically, they were always the biggest force in the Teamsters. And there have been recent cases involving the family and certain IBT locals - 531, 701, 1181, etc. Back in 2001, Michael Marchini of Local 813 was brought up on internal charges of meeting with Matty Ianniello.

As far as the NYC garbage business, I think the reforms made by the Giuliani administration through Local Law 42 in the 1990's was the main cause of removing mob influence. It replaced the mobbed up carting associations with the government run Business Integrity Commission, fixed prices to prevent artificial inflation through the old "property rights" system, and banned carters with mob connections from obtaining operating licenses.

Ivy great to see you back man!!