While I understand how many families here have a set control over their city.  I think it would be interesting if a geographical territory was setup to show the influence of each organization.  For instance, in some cases there are cities with multiple families (i.e. Los Angeles & Philadelphia).  Maybe this could be added in to show each family and specific assets..say, the ports, labor unions, major sports books, businesses paying protection, or maybe even NPC gangs that each family can rp dealing with on a daily basis.  This could provide some additional text role play.  Just my two cents, no big deal.

So you would want a chart or something that shows the level of strengths of each individual family within a city? Would everyone be able to see it? or just a select few like the bosses or actual members of the city?

I had this thought too. It would be interested if there was "territory" in the city that crews would take over to run protection rackets. Say there are illegal gambling dens, brothels or money laundering joints that give cash bonuses every week. Same goes for more legitimate businesses, like docks. It would create much more politics and crews would either have to compete or negotiate for control of the cities. It would create a "zero sum" game that would create more tension. The Mafia has its origins in feudalism, I would make sense if some sense of that was found in here.

It could be taken further if gangs had to compete over influence of labor unions, public officials, and the police within cities.

Now that I think further, it could be taken further. Those joints I mentioned earlier, like brothels, drug manufacturing, or gambling dens, could actually be taken over and run by players. Either by gangs commissioning individuals to run them, or owners paying tribute to the crew that's protecting them. Bars, HQs, and other establishments could have a physical placement on the map.

Its a pretty deep idea, but would probably take a lot of development.

Sorry all, I didn't see these responses.  Here were my ideas.  For each city we have a general map of New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Chicago etc etc.  Now, we can make a geographic setup of the family's territory.  Everyone can see the general area of what family controls what.  Now, in refernce to rackets there should be a limited amount of who controls either the drug markets (each type of drug specific too) and each area should pay out some sort of protection money which is of course the mafia's base form of income.  The Godfather or top bosses of each territory should be able to delegate who controls what.  Now, for instance if someone controls the ports, they could get a boost in waht is trafficked in and out of the city, whether it be extra guns for a family or even drugs. 

John Dilliner - In reference to your question, each family has about 50 members max it seems on here. So while that indicates a high level of membership it doesn't show how much the family has infiltrated the city it is involved in.  So we base the supreme power of a city on a "Godfather" level it seems, or if I am wrong please correct me. But, that does not in my opinion, provide an accurate portrayal of absolute hegemony in a city. 

Legitimate business, drug trafficking, extortion, labor racketeering, money laundering, gambling, loan sharking, these are some of bread and butter crimes of the Mafia.  We have plenty of murder here, but a geographic control of certain crimes would be good.  Now, if a criminal decides to operate there and isn't with a family, they are expected to pay tribute not only to the family in control, but also to their leader.  Also, while there is just one family or up to 4 or 5 families per city here, who's to say that there isnt a rival gang?  Triads, Jamaican/Haitian drug lords, Cubans/Colombian/Puerto Rican drug dealers, Russian Mobsters all of these offer a wide array of competition that could be almost in NPC form but do give each family an opportunity to gain power.