True.



In the case of Joey Merlino , and NY mob guys working with him, that doesnt necessarily mean they "respect" him, at least in the ultimate sense of the word. They simply may just acknowledge the fact he's not a rat and if caught up in some illegal scam, they know he wont flip , they may respect that aspect of his personality. But it doesnt necessarily have to mean the Genovese respected his mob "history and prowess". For example, I've learned from some pretty reliable users on another forum that many NY mobsters from various families didnt think Merlinos rise was "Cosa Nostra". The fact that he was a soldier , who made a guy, despite never rightfully having this privilege, and then that guy making himself boss and then making Merlino his underboss, was looked down upon. Its the simple fact that no one was around to stop him and that hes looked at as vehicle into another territory for a NY family, that may be why some guys still choose to cooperate with him. And he simply represents Philly LCN now, so despite how he came to be , it is what it is and you need to go through him and his guys now to do any business in Philly and South Jersey . That may be the case , it doesnt necessarily have to be respect.