I read with interest The Desert Sun's series on the Mafia in the valley ("Gangsters in Paradise," Nov. 30-Dec. 4). I figured I'd offer a personal — actually, a family — perspective on this subject.

My grandfather came over from Italy, alone, when he was 16 years old because he dreamed of becoming an American. By 30 he had settled in the Italian neighborhood of a small city in New England, married an Italian girl from his hometown, and was raising a family. He was running his own business as an ice man (this was before refrigerators), carrying 50 lb. blocks of ice in each hand up four or five flights of stairs to people's apartments all day long.

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