How one Brooklyn neighborhood became instrumental in the rise of the New York Mafia: 'Everyone paid'

Red Hook, known for its IKEA, has a history of crime, shaping lives like Frank Dimatteo's, who saw the Mafia as a legitimate career path.

Growing up in Red Hook, Dimatteo witnessed violence as a child, stating, 'Killing people is just business,' highlighting the brutal reality of gang life.

Historically, Red Hook's docks changed hands from the Irish White Hand gang to Italian mobs, especially during Prohibition, leading to increased violence.

Dimatteo reflects on the aggressive competition for control in Red Hook, noting, 'The Italian takeover of the piers was inevitable,' illustrating the shift in power.

Read at New York Post