The mob and sanitation work. What's the story behind that?

[The Backlash Cometh]

It comes up continually. People whisper it as if they feared someone might be lurking in the bushes, "You know, the mob has the contract on garbage collecting." That was years ago, and I'm still reading the same kind of information today. So, I'm finally curious enough to ask:

(1) Is it true? Is the mob involved in sanitation work? It only takes a little imagination to figure out why they'd do it. First, they have the right to sift through anybody's trash for dicey pieces of information and this might come in handy when you need to lean on someone. And then there's the other advantage of having your own waste disposal.

(2) If it's true, why has the FBI allowed it to continue?

Okay, that's enough questions for now. I hope to still be here this afternoon to review the answers.

[htuttle]

1. It's mostly because there's no inventory to account for

Except for the stuff you get rid of that nobody counts.

It's the same reason they are in cigarette/vending machines, the taxi business, laundrymats, and the bar business. Easy to launder money when you don't really have to account for sales.

[flvegan]

2. Mob controls the Unions in some of these instances

Gives them lots of power, lots of money in contracts. The "competition" sleeps with the fishes...or something.

Least that's the way it used to be in Chicago and NY.

Additionally, in the old days, the capos and soldiers could prove "employment" by being sanitation workers and officials, though they never rode a truck.

[mgr]

3. One word--WASTE MANAGEMENT, corp.n/t

[mcscajun]

4. The biggest reason is simple...everybody has trash...

...and you can't run any kind of business without contracting for its removal.

Same reason the mob's in construction...nothing gets built that they don't get a piece of...

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Fine. Let's say that the mob is involved with consruction &

sanitation. If it's legitimate, then, they're not really acting like THE mob. If it's not legitimate, why isn't the FBI on top of them like white on rice?