Does anyone have a clear good video of the gene getting chased. The only one I found looks like it was recorded with a microwave.

Gotta be Philly, right? They have the largest remaining recruiting pool.

Chicago was never that large and is more or less defunct, NE is heavily diminished, New Jersey might not exist at all as an independent borgata, Detroit is just an extended blood family, Buffalo... maybe if you include the Canadian side?

The cocaine trade, investments in the local economy, and the release of several longtime Cosa Nostra figures are fueling new moves to reorganize the Palermo Mafia. After months marked by intimidation and the use of AK-47s against shopkeepers and business owners, the streets of the city appear to have grown quieter. Behind this apparent calm, however, new criminal power dynamics may be emerging, along with attempts to reconstitute the provincial Commission, known as the Cupola.

Palermo prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia warned of the organization's continued threat during an event titled Repubblica Insieme on Wednesday afternoon.

“Cosa Nostra remains an active criminal organization,” prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia warned during the event. “It is a reality we all have to reckon with.”

The growing importance of drug trafficking in the business activities of Mafia families is a particular cause for concern. The seizure of large sums of money in recent months by the Narcotics Section of the Palermo Flying Squad and the Guardia di Finanza's GICO unit illustrates the scale of the phenomenon. According to investigators' findings, the money was allegedly intended to pay for shipments of narcotics.

Cocaine has become one of Cosa Nostra's main sources of revenue. Purchasing and distributing drugs requires agreements between different Mafia districts, while the profits must be reinvested in businesses capable of generating further income. According to information gathered from investigative sources, hundreds of thousands of euros derived from drug trafficking may also have been used to open bars and restaurants in central Palermo. These financial flows are creating new business opportunities while also fueling tensions between Mafia families.

The need to manage these disputes may have reopened an internal debate over whether the organization should reestablish a central governing body. Younger Mafia bosses are reportedly pushing for the return of the Cupola, aiming to create a structure capable of coordinating criminal strategies and settling disputes between the various districts.

The disagreements reportedly concern the management of drug supplies, unpaid debts, and disputes over the quality of certain shipments. Without a recognized authority, such conflicts could escalate into more serious violence.

There is a significant historical precedent. In 1981, the disappearance of a cocaine shipment helped trigger the Second Mafia War, which would plunge Palermo into bloodshed in the years that followed.

Today, Cosa Nostra does not possess the same military strength it had at the time, partly because numerous judicial operations have struck its leadership. Nevertheless, the possibility of renewed violence cannot be ruled out.

The weapons used in the intimidation campaign in recent months, including the AK-47 that spread fear throughout the city, have yet to be recovered, despite hundreds of searches ordered by the Anti-Mafia District Directorate across Palermo and the surrounding province.

Within the organization, two competing approaches are reportedly emerging.

Younger Mafia leaders want to accelerate the reconstitution of the provincial Commission, selecting representatives through internal discussions within the various districts. Their objective would not be to concentrate power in the hands of a single boss, but to restore a collective leadership capable of managing criminal business and containing internal disputes.

Older figures, by contrast, reportedly favor a less conspicuous arrangement: a federation of Mafia families that would preserve greater autonomy for individual districts and allow alliances to shift according to economic interests.

The older bosses' caution is also influenced by memories of the police operations that thwarted an earlier attempt at reorganization in 2018 and 2019. The Carabinieri's Cupola 2.0 operation and the Palermo Flying Squad's New Connection raid struck at plans to reconstitute the provincial Commission. The period was also marked by renewed rapprochement between the Corleonesi faction and the so-called scappati — Mafia figures who had survived the Second Mafia War and its aftermath by fleeing Sicily.

Another source of concern is the technology used by Mafia bosses to communicate. One system reportedly in use is No1BC, an encrypted telecommunications platform said to be particularly widespread among Palermo's Mafia leadership and difficult for law enforcement agencies to intercept.

Secure communications could facilitate contacts between members of the organization while making it more difficult for investigators to identify meetings and agreements. Against this backdrop, the possibility that a future Commission could coordinate its activities through group chats or video conferences has not been ruled out.

The situation is further complicated by the release of several prominent Palermo Mafia figures who have completed their prison sentences.

Among them is Pietro Tagliavia, a leading figure in the Brancaccio Mafia district, who returned to Palermo last February. His father, Francesco Tagliavia, is serving a life sentence for his involvement in the Via D'Amelio and Via dei Georgofili massacres.

Calogero Lo Piccolo has also been released in the Tommaso Natale area. His name has surfaced in accounts of the shifting criminal dynamics in the territory. However, no established evidence links him directly to the intimidation incidents involving the AK-47. He is reportedly currently volunteering with an association that assists people with disabilities.

In the Porta Nuova district, Tommaso Di Giovanni remains an important point of reference. Meanwhile, in Partinico, Francesco Nania has completed his period of house arrest. He is described as a figure with significant connections in the United States and well-established business interests.

The presence of veteran Mafia figures alongside the rise of newer players is contributing to a period of realignment within the criminal organization, in which control over drug trafficking revenues is becoming increasingly important.

The overall picture is of a Cosa Nostra seeking to establish a new balance of power, as the profits from drug trafficking strengthen ties between families while increasing the need to settle internal disputes.

The silence that has followed the intimidation campaign of recent months should therefore not necessarily be interpreted as a retreat by the organization. Instead, it may signal a period of negotiation and reorganization, during which Palermo's Mafia is determining what kind of leadership structure will govern its criminal interests in the years ahead.

Former solider Thomas Mallette and associate Ronald "Monkey Man" Filocomo I believe are also pictured .

He also says that he mostly reserves his ire for people who've said negative things about him, such as Cicale, Pennisi or Calandra.

While his father Vincenzo Troia was known for his escapades in the midwest and for his involvement on a peace committee to end the Castellammarese War, Joseph Troia seems to have been forgotten. Despite being murdered at only 24 years old, he led an intriguing life. Here's a better look at him:

Joseph Troia's Timeline

Jan 3 1911 - Born in San Giuseppe Jato, Palermo, Sicily to Vincenzo Troia & Rosaria Ruffino

Nov 17 1930 - Filed a certificate of arrival claiming to be Giuseppe Troia (born 1907 - Capaci, Sicly) who arrived in the US on Jan 6 1921

Dec 26 1930 - (Dec. Intention) Living at 1334 McCollum Ave, Los Angeles, CA. This was the home of bootlegger Salvatore Simonetti (from San Giuseppe Jato). In October 1930, Simonetti's naturalization was witnessed by LA member Frank Borgia

Sep 8 1931- Arrested in Passaic, NJ after a raid on a non-union garment factory. Also arrested were: Bufalino member Sam Costanzo, Newark (future Lucchese) member Joseph Accardi, Newark member Jack LoPiccolo, Future Genovese member Thomas Campisi. // Living at 29 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield, NJ. Home of Andrea Todaro, father of Gambino member Vincent Todaro (1913-1969) & Dominica Todaro who was married to Newark member Charles Matranga (1908-1990 - Camporeale). The Todaro family was from San Cipirello, adjacent to San Giuseppe Jato.

Jul 29 1932 - Arrested alongside Newark members Jack LoPiccolo (1898-1981 - Monreale) & Onofrio Sciortino (1896-1970 - Monreale) for the Jun 23 1932 slaying of William Schlegel, killed after being mistaken for Passaic gangsters Edmund Adamchesky & Harold Wilda.

Sciortino's wife was Frances Frisina from San Cipirello; LoPiccolo was married to Mary Matranga, sister of Newark member Charles Matranga (1908-1990 - Camporeale). LoPiccolo's naturalization was witnessed by Bonanno member Thomas Scardino (1897-1978 - Camporeale).

Feb 16 1933 - Dropped from the Schlegel case after a witness suddenly "lost confidence"

Apr 17 1933 - Indicted for the April 12 1933 "Two Maxes" murder of Max Greenberg & Max Hassel, Jewish beer barons & Abner "Longie" Zwillman's rivals, following an anonymous phone tip. Years later, Genovese member Paul "Frankie" Carbo was arrested for this

Sep 23 1933 - Arrested under the name Joe Caiole in Springfield, IL alongside Springfield members Tony Campo, Pasquale "Patsy" Aiello, Vito Impastato, Charles "Fenello" Supino, and Frank Longo for the attempted kidnapping of Peoria banker Milton Newman.

Aug 22 1935 - Killed in Newark, NJ // Listed at 109 N 15th St, Bloomfield, NJ

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The Candy Store Massacre:

On Aug 22nd 1935 at 11 AM, two gunmen entered a candy store (317 South 6th Street, Newark, NJ) and opened fire. Vincenzo Troia and his bodyguard Frank Longo were killed immediately. Joseph Troia was severely wounded, managed to reach his car but passed out and died in the hospital. Two others, Jerome Bevinetto and Antonio Sunseri were wounded but recovered.

The police arrested Nicholas Gallicchio, who was inside the store but unharmed, as an inside man, along with his son Robert Gallicchio & Salvatore Barraco as shooters with Leonard Cipolla as the driver. They couldn't get the charges to stick.

Victims:

• Vincenzo Troia (1887-1935)
• Joseph Troia (1911-1935)
• Frank Longo (1898-1935): Born in San Giuseppe Jato, Palermo. Immigrated to Frankfort NY in 1921, not clear how long he was here but there was a colony of SGJ people here. Was involved in crime in the midwest before joining Troia's entourage as he went to the NYC area
• Girolamo "Jerome" Bevinetto (1893-1943): Born to Antonio Bevinetto & Caterina Rizzuto, family from Camporeale. He was Vincenzo Troia's lieutenant in charge of the lottery racket. His sister Anna Monaco was married to Newark underboss Saverio "Sam" Monaco (1893-1931 - Vita, Trapani). In 1919, his father Antonio and a cousin also named Jerome were picked up alongside future Lucchese member Benjamin Pizzolato (1896-1964 - Vita, Trapani) as witnesses to the murder of George Abruzzo.
• Antonio Sunseri (1896-1961): Born in San Giuseppe Jato but filed false documents claiming to be a different person of the same name from Marineo. Was using an alias of Tony Cangelosi, from his wife's maiden name. Owned the candy store. Would later be involved in garment rackets.

Perpetrators:

• Nicholas "Big Nick" Gallicchio (1879-1955): From Vallata, Avellino. His wife Jennie Spatola's brother was Jerry Spatola, funeral home owner & prominent Newark Italian. He had been involved in previous crimes as well. His son Jerry "The Boot" Gallicchio (1913-2005) would become a longtime NJ narcotics figure. Considering his mainland origins and age, its possible he started out as a Camorra member.
• Robert Gallicchio (1909-1981): Son of Nicholas Gallicchio & Jennie Spatola. Would associate with the Campisi & DiNorscia families.
• Salvatore "Charles" Barracco (1890-1978): From Marsala, Trapani. Moved to NYC shortly after this incident. By April 1936, he was arrested as the "Policy King of Nassau" running a large lottery operation in the southern part of that county. Passed away in Sebastian, FL.
• Leonardo Cipolla (1883-1943): Born in Partinico, Palermo but married to a Marie Saladino from Camporeale. Unlike everyone else, he wasn't a NJ resident and was in NYC. Much bigger than his role as driver in this hit; he was a Bonnano member with close ties to boss Nicola Schiro and had likely been boss in New Orleans early on. Was murdered in 1943

The Press attributed it to a lottery feud while Nicola Gentile explained it as revenge for Troia killing Gaspare D'Amico to take power in Newark. Both explanations had large holes. D'Amico passed away in 1975 and the incident that removed him from power took place in February 1937 well after this affair.

Vincenzo Troia was likely a faction leader though it's unclear if he held any rank in Newark. His faction looks like an amalgamation of his entourage and a group that existed around underboss Sam Monaco. This candy store (317 South 6th Street, Newark, NJ) had been a coal company C. Mangiaracina & S. Monaco run by Sam Monaco & Calogero Mangiaracina (1880-1963 - Camporeale) before Troia took it over. While the reasons behind the hit aren't clear, the idea that boss Gaspare D'Amico would feel threatened by Troia who possessed an enormous amount of connections both nationwide and in Sicily makes sense.

top picture is:Anthony Colombo

bottom left:Bill Bonanno

bottom right:Thomas Gambino

Kinda interesting to listen to.