Mafia problems?

Hi everyone, I've been reading here for a month or so now, but just registered. First off, I want to thank everyone here for posting some truly useful information.

Anyway, I was talking to a friend of mine, and he said that years ago, in Atlantic City, there was some "suspected" problems relating to food vendors on the strip that were apparently not kicking back cash to the local mob. Some of the people disappeared.

I guess my question is, have you ever had a run-in with some one like this? I'm still in the process of starting my business (I have the cart, and my license, just have to do the permits), but I don't want to step on anyone's toes by picking a location that I shouldn't.

I've heard that a lot of the food vendors around like sports stadiums are "mob connected" and I don't want to get myself into trouble.

Any advice or interesting stories? Thanks, and once again....great site.

New Jersey is a little... well...New Jersey. Where are you planning on setting up?

I'm in Jacksonville, Florida. I was thinking about near our stadium.

I was more looking for stories, but advice too.

Maybe I just watched The Sopranos too much...lol

New Jersey????
Mafia????
Are you serious??

Either you're in the wrong state (you should be in Rhode Island)
or you're in some bizarre time warp circa 1975

Mafia interested in the food cart business? Sounds like someone's been watching a little too much Supranos.

Are you kidding, just a few months ago there was another NJ corruption bust. Then the whole thing about the AC mayor last week. Jersey traditions will never die!! My apologies to the folks of cow town for being dragged down with the guilty.

Sorry if this thread is too "silly" for you guys. I just thought it might be more interesting than the same bunch of "New Cart Help" threads here.

I figured with all of the combined hundreds of years of experience of the people here that maybe ONCE someone had some sort of problem. Sorry.

There is no Mafia.

I can't even write it with a straight face. Seriously, living in Jersey I've heard all kinds of stories. Someone I know who owns a lunch truck (roach coach) told me that a friend of his who has his own lunch truck is located at the Newark Airport. He claims that his friend has to kick back cash in order to stay at his location. I can definitely believe it. Anyone who doesn't believe there is a Mafia or organized crime in New Jersey is naive or just plain stupid.

Rob, I do not know if there will be someone offering you "protection" in Jax. I think it's less likely and you should worry more about bad regulations and unrealistic demands by a city council. Redneck trumps mafia.*



*In the interst of disclosure I have family in Jax and use the term redneck as a funny and with no real intent to pigeon hole a city which I have spent a lot of time in or the backwoods people that border in in Georgia.**

** In the interest of Full disclosure...

There is no Mafia, though when it did run, it was into kickbacks on everything. The Rino act took out alot of the Mafia. Now a days there are other groups that are trying to form like the Mafia. If you are ever approached the FBI will want to know. Many gangs are trying to form national groups, though it is still small compared to the old Mafia, they are still trying and the FBI is still incharge of this type of activity. RJF

C,mon, Richard. You must not be familiar with New Jersey. Or New York. Just last year a body was found in the trunk of a car that was parked behind a local diner in my area. The person was identified as an organized crime figure (Mafia). The family he belonged to (Columbo, Gambino, Genovese) was named as well as his recent background. He was due to testify in court. Hate to burst your bubble, but the Mafia is alive and well in these parts.

Even in Wisconsin. There are a few resaurants that keep up their "back rooms". You may not have a National Don anymore, (and you may have, I have no idea until the indictments come down) but even a small local group is a big freaking problem when it's you they are hitting up. The FBI still has task forces on the mafia for a reason. They still exist. It's just they are a lot smarter than the ms-13 type activity that is so much more visible in the papers everyday.

I heard that. and as far as i know it is true. The exact situation i am not sure, but i did hear that.

Hey..if I have to give someone a few bucks to make things go better for me then I am all for it!.

no redneck mafia here..lol

dw

There is a Mafia.. I want 4 chili dogs a day...

This a real "eye opener" for me. I always thought the stuff on Sopranos was a bit of dramatic story telling.

Leaning on the food vendors for protection. It wouldnt be worth it for me.

tex grill

The Discovery channel and Forensic programs have shown that many of the activities are now more gang groups trying to create a Mafia structure. The major national mafia structure is broken, though groups of crime still exist and the FBI is still on it. They just has a program on about an FBI agent that went inside the Mafia for 6 years to bust a major part of the Mafia. I'm relating what that program stated that the mafia doesn't exist like it did in its hay days. RJF

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

There is no Mafia.

I can't even write it with a straight face. Seriously, living in Jersey I've heard all kinds of stories. Someone I know who owns a lunch truck (roach coach) told me that a friend of his who has his own lunch truck is located at the Newark Airport. He claims that his friend has to kick back cash in order to stay at his location. I can definitely believe it. Anyone who doesn't believe there is a Mafia or organized crime in New Jersey is naive or just plain stupid.

None other than the late J. Edgar Hoover declared that there was no Mafia in the US. And, certainly nobody knew more about crime in the US than he did.

Please don't tell me that this exemplar of everything good was lying! My God, the next thing you know, you will try to tell me that he was a closeted drag queen.

I worked for 4 years for a guy who was in the Mob. In fact, most of our customers were gangsters. They tipped really well, including the kitchen. I was a nice girl who knew how to cook Italian food, especially Sicilian food......broccoli rabe in garlic and olive oil, over penne. The mobsters loved me. My Irish significant other was mortified.

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

There is no Mafia.

I can't even write it with a straight face. Seriously, living in Jersey I've heard all kinds of stories. Someone I know who owns a lunch truck (roach coach) told me that a friend of his who has his own lunch truck is located at the Newark Airport. He claims that his friend has to kick back cash in order to stay at his location. I can definitely believe it. Anyone who doesn't believe there is a Mafia or organized crime in New Jersey is naive or just plain stupid.

Oh, there certainly is a signficant heavy mafia presence in New Jersey. The Russian Mafia, The Jamaican Mafia and The Asian (you name the nationality) Mafia. I grew up in New York and spent most of my life there, I have many many friends who are advance degreed professionals that live in New Jersey, some work in the legal/and or government field and they are pretty confident that the mafia you're thinking of with Don Tucci Spumoni in the back room is basically all but dead, however here in Rhode Island it is very much alive.

quote:

Originally posted by divefl

Even in Wisconsin. There are a few resaurants that keep up their "back rooms".

I'm picturing scenes from the movie "the Godfather", but with dialogue from the movie "Fargo" dubbed in!

i have a sandwich at my store called a fughettabouttit!!!!!

The Mafia may not exist like it did in it's heyday, but there's no doubt it exists, regardless of what the Discovery Channel, J.Edgar Hoover, or Mario Cuomo says. I got a good laugh years ago when Mario Cuomo said there was no Mafia; it was just a smear against Italian Americans. No sooner had the words left his mouth when Rudolf Guiliani, who was a prosecutor at the time and had put plenty of mobsters away, ridiculed Cuomo for his naivete/dishonesty. Guiliani, who stated that he is Italian American, was incredulous that Cuome would say such a thing. And to think, at around that time, many people were pushing Cuomo as a potential presedential candidate!

No Mafia. Right. John Gotti was just an electrical parts salesman. And O.J. is still looking for the real killers.

Mario Cuomo did once kinda sorta say there was no Mafia, but when you read/hear what he said in context it's pretty clear he didn't really believe it. He was just getting hot under the collar when reporters were asking him about a smear campaign at the time that suggested he was connected to that very Mafia.

My dad always told me if I ever needed a "problem" taken care of.. he knew people.. His fathere had a very good friend named Meyer and he named my father after him.....

quote:

Originally posted by RichardFriese

There is no Mafia, though when it did run, it was into kickbacks on everything. The Rino act took out alot of the Mafia. Now a days there are other groups that are trying to form like the Mafia. If you are ever approached the FBI will want to know. Many gangs are trying to form national groups, though it is still small compared to the old Mafia, they are still trying and the FBI is still incharge of this type of activity. RJF

First of all, it's the RICO Act, not the Rino act, and second, well, you must be in serious denial.

Pardon me while I take a little time to roll around on the floor laughing.

My advise is this. If you havent already done so, strike up a coversation with some of the current vendors. If such a condition exists, you will get the message. If not set up your cart. If they are there, they will find you.

LOL. Growing up in an Italian neighborhood on East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx during the 50's I was taught that those who know don't talk, those who talk don't know.

I'll have the boys drop by for my boxed lunch...have the green salad all ready to go. You hearing this?

Thanks Micheal, I took it from memory and could only think of what I wrote. Though with the whole mafia labels, crime what ever the label is alive a well. RJF

Please refer any "Mob" problems to United States Attorney (for Northern Illinois) Patrick Fitzgerald.

Mr. Fitzgerald took good care of a couple of "wise guys" around here.... Joey "The Clown" Lombardo and others will soon be "eatin' Boloney Sangwichs".