Neighborhoods were a lot safer from outside interference, but were victimized to some degree from the local Italian gangsters, but not like it was when the 70's rolled around. A majority of those before the 1960's had a certain code of honor, that they left certain people alone who were actually helping out their nieghborhoods or other Italians in need. But a majority of shop owners in the Italian neighborhoods pay some sort of protection to the local crime group.
Yeah, that's about it.
I have no illusions about these guys ever being Robin Hood. I grew up with with a front row seat to their bullshit, and little by little I saw every myth ever propagated about them being Robin Hood ripped apart.
But the older guys WERE different. And I don't necessarily mean the guys my father's age (he's in his 80's now). Because some of them were greedy pigs. I'm talking about the guys who would be a hundred today. These guys were old men when I was growing up, and I'm almost 55.
There was more of a duality to them. A lot of them ended up in the life by accident or by necessity. Most of the guys who I grew up with who ended up in the life lacked that duality. They became criminals not out of necessity, but by choice. Big difference.
