The 1980s were a difficult time for the Mafia. First, there was the battle in Philadelphia caused by the assassination of not one but two Dons, Angelo Bruno and Philip Testa. Later on, there was the Scarfo/Riccobene conflict which seemed to send Philadelphia back to the 1930s in terms of open warfare.
Big things were happening in New York, too, with the Donnie Brasco affair that led to the execution of Dominick Napolitano and the takeover of the Gambino family by the Teflon Don, John Gotti. All in all, it was no cakewalk to be a card-carrying member of the mob.