Leo looks around at the Few mobsters in the bar around him, some who's bloodlines have been around for years, and many who's bloodline are very new to these shores.

Leo coughed and got the attention he wanted so he could start his discussion.

So, in today's times, we see that each City is headed by a single godfather, above many crews below him/her. Actions taken in each city are of no concern to other parts of the country, other cities headed by other Godfathers.

Yet I remember a time when all of the cities godfathers would come together and discuss matters concering every city, each Auth would need to be put by all acting heads of every mobster Active city in America. I wonder now if this method was seen as Better or worse, each city is it's own, but most sponsored from any city, use multiple non-home cities. I'm not sure if the current Godfathers discuss current matters in this way, but it appears that Action in each city has a "It's not my city, nothing to do with me" approach.

My discussion today is, which method do you personally believe is the best approach to such matters, via a Godfather council, or by each individual city. I have neither view as it does not concern me, but I wish to hear everyone else's views on the matter.

"The world in general doesn't know what to make of originality; it is startled out of its comfortable habits of thought, and its first reaction is one of anger."

? - Leo

An answer to your question is quite a simple one, auths are decided per city.
But thats just one part of things that are decided amongst this world, quite recently The Honoured Society kicked off bringing GF's together on more national concerns than who operates in a city.

In the "old" days we didn't have godfathers, perhaps acting city heads but no way it's comparible on how our world has progressed.

I like it a lot the way things are now, it makes each city unique and that counts for something.
Would we have a GF council deciding on every little bit of what is to decide about we would almost end up in a monarchy, which truely we are not.

Though I find this an interesting point you raise I am a bit disappointed you require others opinions but do not voice your own, when a matter is given the attention you have given it to adress it I'm quite sure you've an opinion of your own.

The Godfathers/mothers get together on issues where there is a common interest or where issues concern our thing at large.  However, I think it is right that a Godfather/mother has the right to run their city as they deem to be necessary.  They have earned that right.

Well, In all honestly Godmother Scipita I don't think the matter concerns me very much, either way that the world works or used to would work in my opinion. It merely interested me as to if others found it a concern that they may have wished to come forward and voice.

- Leo

Bearing in mind of course my dear Mafioso, that there will always be a heirachy of power. Due to this heirachy of power, some city heads cannot always run their cities *precisely* as they see fit, because they have to take into account what kind of reaction people that are stronger than them will have to such a change. For example, if the city head of Miami were a Consigliere, he would not be able to deem that New York or other strong cities would have to pay a city tax, and he wont be able to set up a crewleader that these stronger city leaders do not approve of simply because his city will be eradicated from the face of the proverbial Mafia map.

Of course that is hypothetical, and we have yet to swan into Miami and make it our own city.

Heh but don't you agree thats a concern for us Godfathers to raise and not for someone to raise for others?
That would be like me making a topic if NY should start eating oranges instead of banana's... I mean maybe a monkey there doesn't like banana's and would like to switch to oranges you know?

Well Godmother Scipita, It's not really a concern, but a discussion. I just wanted to welcome forward anyone who would like to speak on the subject, as I think it makes for a good discussion, that's what the streets are for, No?

- Leo

Ah but Cryptic, that is a situation where it would directly affect other cities where as an auth might not.
A GF council however would not change the situation as you just worded.

Ofcourse every Godfather or city head makes decissions taking in account how it affects other cities or how they might react.
I do hope this also counts for auths, there's a lot of things to take in account, but those are taken into account by the city head.

Exactly Leo, hence I ask for your opinion. Usually people speak on a subject they have an opinion on, atleast thats what I thought this place was for.
Not to raise "random" subjects and sit back and relax, the topic was clearly on your mind so I invite you to share your thoughts on it.
I wonder how it is a Wise Guy wonders about this, what will this debate do good for him, I do hope this is not public service someone needs to speak their mind because they couldn't/wouldn't do so prior while they found it worthy.

On a side note, if crime rates kick up in Miami, I'll definately be consulting the other city leaders discussing me moving to Miami, for various reasons ofc.

As I said before, simply the memory of how things used to be run brought the subject up. And as I said, I have neither stong view on the running of this world, as how it is run does not affect me directly until I am in the upper elcheon of a family. I am not putting this forward as a Public service, and I find that you think the originality of this train of thought very surprising. I didn't realise this was such a "Sensetive" Subject. My views on the matter are that it doesn't concern me, that doesn't mean I do not wish to see the views of others on the matter.

- Leo

I too remember a time when the Godfather council's were about, but I must agree with Scipita, each city now has a unique touch. We have a diverse set of Godfather's and Underbosses, if the Godfather council were to return, I feel there would be little room for such differences and things would most likely be repetitive throughout each city.

Due to the diversity, we have some different outlooks on pickpocketing, we also have taxes introduced for shooting in certain cities so they can make some extra income. Each GF probably has their own ideas on how they'd like to see their city progress and so it's ideal in my opinion to let them have control of what happens in their city, after all as John said, they have earned it.

I think people need to realise this discussion for what it is. Something that has not been (in my shoddy memory) discussed at large with in the streets lately and something that is actually quite a decent topic for masses to see and air views on.

The old ways of doing things where each city head would put forth a potential auth to the other city heads and get a majority vote on whether or not this person could be authed. From what i've been told ofcourse. That to me is quite ridiculous. It had it's benefits ofcourse but If a person is given or earned the position of city head and then even the rank of Godfather then surely they should do with that city and auth with in that city as he see's fit. No?

The current way of doing things which I have been learning first hand is much better in my opinion. I would also like to bring up something Cryptic has said...

For example, if the city head of Miami were a Consigliere, he would not be able to deem that New York or other strong cities would have to pay a city tax, and he wont be able to set up a crewleader that these stronger city leaders do not approve of simply because his city will be eradicated from the face of the proverbial Mafia map.

That obviously is the situation I am in at the moment. Whether coincidence or not. There are certain things at my current rank that I believe would not be feasable to do when it concerns the other crime cities. Like initiate a tax on something for instance. I wouldn't dream of doing that anyway as I just plain don't like them and i've faced the fact I have nothing to tax. However, when it comes to setting someone up in Los Angeles. Believe you me, that person is setting up whether the other cities like it or not. Yes, they can wipe me and my auths from the face of the proverbial mafia map. But I am not about to let fear of death stop me from doing what I want to do with this city.

Fair enough, the topic itself isn't sensitive at all since us city heads know exactly where we're at, I was curious on how you experienced this "new" way, if it affected you at anyway at all.

I too often see mafioso approach subject in the streets or may it be anywhere but not say anything of their own, that is something I am much more sensitive about than the actual topic.

And on an extra side note, if it was unclear, as I said in my first response, I do appriciate this topic a lot hence me provoking an opinion ;)

Perhaps if I begin to break into the upper elcheon of a family, My views on this subject will change, and I will touch on this subject once more. As I said I have very little knowledge of how this run between each city, and It is not of my concern until I am alittle more connected with an upper elcheon. However, although the overall subject does not affect me directly as such, I would like to see the opinions of those whom are directly effected by it, such as Leaders or RHM, City heads and everyone with a Bold suit.

- Leo

If we're discussing people becoming Authed in Miami, Im throwing my name in the proverbial hat. I do love South Beach!

It's a difficult call to make if I were in your position Consigliere Jelly. You are driven by your motivation of what wouldn't annoy the other stronger cities, but you also have a duty to do what's best for your city. Possibly, the best auth option would be one that annoyed other cities, but if it would get your city eradicated then you've surely failed your duty to do what's best for your city? Someone driven by fear, in my eyes, becomes someone that would be too fearful to create any form of innovative idea and it would be a fairly poor display of leadership the only motivation was "I can't do anything that will bring attention to myself from the other cities". Motivation should be what's best for your city yes, but you have to weigh up pro's and con's.

As for your first point PJ, I fully agree with this and voiced this on IRC avenue to this speaker just a few minutes prior to your posting. The topic at hand was a very good one to pick out and I commend Leo for his choice of speech, as there is plenty of potential for discussion and debate, the possibility of wise comments from certain individuals and the viewpoint for all the persons that inhabit this world of ours to be heard. I believe that this world still has an element of free speech where you can voice a slightly inhibited opinion on issues and topics, inhibited by the fact that if you overstretch your mark then you will be despatched in an efficient fashion but if you are eloquent enough in speech and have the rank and position to carry off what you're saying then I don't see why not.

All in all, both my points are off the original topic there and I'd like to hop back on song to say that I think there is still an element of a "Godfather council" in that you have to respect the power from other cities and you will always bear in mind that your actions are under a certain level of scrutiny from these other cities at all times. There has always been a "council" of sorts between the heads of cities, where issues were discussed amongst the city heads and addressed. There was a point where one leader in particular, a former head of Las Vegas by the name of Dick_Gozinya, was requesting permission for promotions to and above Made Man due to three of his high rankers going rogue in a short space of time. Of course, this was more out of respect and apology than an imposed restriction on him.

Not that it's anyone's business publicly other than the Godfather Council, however, whenever an empty city were to arise the Godfathers at the time did get together and put forth names or requests of people they'd like to move forward to head the empty city. This has happened fairly recently as well. It's a common respect the Godfathers have with one another. Not all will see eye to eye on every matter, but when it affects the nation as a whole we will converse with one another to see what can benefit the eight cities.

Absolutely it's in any Godfather or City Heads right to auth who they think would make a good underboss or captain in their own city. Who am I to tell another Godfather who they can or can't/should or shouldn't auth within the confines of their own city. Things are definitely different than the days of old, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I think it's great that each Godfather has their own input and supreme reign over their own city, as that's how it's supposed to be. It wouldn't be the same and the title of 'Godfather' wouldn't hold the same weight if we all just got together and held hands on ever matter concerning each others city.