Welcome to You Can't Make This Up, a companion podcast for Netflix's original true crime stories.

I'm Rebecca Laveoy, your host.

Each episode we take a close up look at a true crime documentary or series,

and I talk to the people who made them, digging deep into the backstories and

getting answers to questions raised by what we just watched. Up this week, Fear City, New York versus the mafia.

The three-part documentary chronicles the rise and fall of New York's most powerful

mafia families from the perspective of the FBI agents and prosecutors who

risked their lives to take them down.

I'll be talking with Sam Hopkinson, the film's director.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our guest was recorded in his home and not in a studio,

and we appreciate your understanding.

People once called New York, Fun City.

Now the police are calling it Fear City.

In the 70s, City of New York was owned by the mob.

We were untouchable.

I didn't feel New York was my critique the take and I thought we already took it.

They had judges they put on the bench.

They controlled restaurants, the docks, the ships, hospitals, and go on rock.

It was total anarchy.

You knew if you didn't pay on top. they bend your leg and stuff it in your pocket.

The bomb force me didn't have any power to do anything.

It was the golden era of the mob. The FBI couldn't keep up with us.

...