Red Hook's history reveals rise of New York Mafia, new book shows

Red Hook, a neighborhood in southwestern Brooklyn, was once notorious for crime and violence, according to a new book titled "Red Hook – Brooklyn Mafia, Ground Zero." The area played a key role in Brooklyn's history as a hub for goods and contraband. The book, co-authored by Frank Dimatteo, details how Red Hook's docks were initially controlled by the Irish gang, the White Hand, before being overtaken by Italian mobs. This shift led to increased violence, especially during Prohibition, as competition for illicit liquor intensified. Today, Red Hook has abandoned warehouses and underdeveloped land. While gentrification is slowly occurring, the neighborhood still grapples with its troubled past, which included high rates of juvenile delinquency.