Page 90 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

THE MAFIA IN PALERMO

The most glaring symptom of decay in Palermo, the Mafia problem, is intimately
connected with the welfare of the city. For years it has been openly acknowledged
that a large part of the funds pouring in from Rome and the EU, ostensibly to

redevelop the city centre, are unaccounted for – channelled to dubious businessmen,
or simply raked off by Mafia leaders. The subtle control exerted by the Mafia is
traditionally referred to only obliquely, though it periodically erupts into the news.

The problem is deeply rooted and unlikely to disappear completely any time soon,
despite the courageous efforts of various individuals. Prominent among these is
Leoluca Orlando, currently serving his fourth term as mayor of Palermo, who

attempts to combat corruption at municipal level by removing companies suspected
of links with organized crime from the tenders list for new contracts. Resistance to
Mafia corruption has also emerged at street level, notably with many owners of
shops and businesses in Palermo banding together and refusing to pay pizzo, the
protection money traditionally demanded by local crime gangs. A thriving

organization, Addiopizzo ( addiopizzo.org), coordinates the local resistance –
their consumo critico (critical shopping) list publicizes the hundreds of enterprises
now offering a pizzo-free Palermo experience (look for the stickers), including
restaurants, bars and B&Bs.