It helped that the family basically started out on top and simply had to maintain that position.

It was more willing to partner with Jewish mobsters and was the first to become involved in the labor union rackets and from there it always had the deepest involvement. A big reason why the family has been the most difficult for the government to remove from unions and legitimate industries.

The family probably had the most political clout, overall, of any if the NY families. Obviously they were the one to represent several of the eastern families on the Commission. Today they are said to have the strongest ties to other crime groups.

One thing law enforcement has commented on is the family being diversified on terms of their rackets. They control the largest bookmaking and loansharking operations in New York and New Jersey, have the most labor racketeering activity remaining, and have usually been at the front when it comes to getting involved in new rackets like stock fraud or health care fraud.

They've been involved in drugs but, especially for a family that size, seem to have been more restrained and careful than other families. And because it's maintained more sophisticated operations in things like gambling and labor, it hasn't been as dependent on the drug trade.

The family, traditionally, has seemed to never have a shortage of capable leaders. The "deepest bench" one LE official said. Loyalty, secrecy, and discipline were always enforced and the result was a lot less guys flipping. And even when guys did flip, there wasn't a domino effect and widespread disruption like with other families. More careful about who they make, relatively speaking. The average age of the family is older than the others too.

As others said above, the family has long been quick to take pleasure deals and minimize the damage. It's why people shouldn't take this latest bust as some earth shaking event. Look at how many top Genovese guys have been indicted over the past 15 years. A lot. It chips away at the family but it's a revolving door as guys go away and come home and the organization overall keeps going. That's all law enforcement can really do as they wait for attrition to take its toll. Which it is, albeit slowly.