"Local" may not be your salvation...

[davideduardo]

Weapons used by gangs like the 'Puccio Family' or the Sinaloa Cartel would get through just about any hardened glass in about one and a half seconds.

Fortunately, other than a few smugglers, Argentina does not have "crime families" or cartel groups.

 

[Kelly A]

Fortunately, other than a few smugglers, Argentina does not have "crime families" or cartel groups.

Guess things have changed eh?

From https://insightcrime.org/argentina-organized-crime-news/argentina-profile/#Criminal Groups

"While previously there was little evidence of domestic criminal groups in Argentina with a national or international reach, several groups have evolved into more complex and sophisticated structures in recent years.

One of the most power national groups is the Rosario-based Monos, a family clan. This group took advantage of the situation during the early 2000s to consolidate its power in the city, a key thoroughfare for drug smuggling. The group was also able to ally itself with some political and economic elites and to infiltrate the local police.

Another important characteristic of Los Monos lies in the family ties that connect its members. Family clans have molded the criminal map in Argentina for years. Most of these clans act similarly, managing to infiltrate various local political and security institutions, while exercising strong control over certain territories.

Another clan from Argentina that has achieved some notoriety is the Castedo Clan, originally from the province of Salta, in the north of the country. Its leader, Delfín Castedo, was captured in Bolivia and extradited to Argentina for cocaine trafficking. The clan enjoyed the support of local politicians and judges, like Raúl Reynoso, which allowed him to transport cocaine from Bolivia to Salta and later to the most important ports of the country. In addition, there is Clan Loza, whose leaders were accused of coordinating drug shipments to Europe.

Meanwhile, soccer gangs known as barras bravas are known to engage in a variety of criminal activities, and certain powerful trade unions have also developed criminal portfolios. Organized crime groups described as "Chinese mafia" have sprung up in Asian immigrant communities in Argentina, and reportedly have ties to larger structures in China.

Finally, transnational crime groups from other South American countries have tried to consolidate their operations in Argentina, and national groups have tried to imitate these larger syndicates. Brazil’s largest gang, the First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da Capital – PCC) has set its sights on expanding its presence in Argentina for years, as has its biggest rival, the Red Command (Comando Vermelho - CV). But the gangs have found it difficult to gain a foothold in Argentina, because the country largely has control of its prisons and has avoided the levels of extreme violence that these gangs use to consolidate power."

 

[davideduardo]

All well and good, but in 1972, while 16-year-old me was alone in the building doing the Top 40 show, about 8:30, a very large, very inebriated man walked into the lobby, and into the studio and told me he'd like to hear Redbone's "Witch Queen of New Orleans."

Never had anything like that, although did have a squad of communist rebels take over my first station in 1965 during the lunch hour when everyone went home except the jock.

They beat down the office building door and then knocked the station staffer out and tied him up while others issued a proclamation and call to arms, leaving in a few moments by jumping down the trash chute. I got there a few minutes later, and the police, army and security people soon followed.

My DJ was in shock, but not harmed. He took a few days off to recover. I did not stop shaking for about a day. We put in a metal door and did not let anyone in from Noon to 2:30 PM.

 

[davideduardo]

Guess things have changed eh?

From https://insightcrime.org/argentina-organized-crime-news/argentina-profile/#Criminal Groups

"While previously there was little evidence of domestic criminal groups in Argentina with a national or international reach, several groups have evolved into more complex and sophisticated structures in recent years.

One of the most power national groups is the Rosario-based Monos, a family clan. This group took advantage of the situation during the early 2000s to consolidate its power in the city, a key thoroughfare for drug smuggling. The group was also able to ally itself with some political and economic elites and to infiltrate the local police.

Another important characteristic of Los Monos lies in the family ties that connect its members. Family clans have molded the criminal map in Argentina for years. Most of these clans act similarly, managing to infiltrate various local political and security institutions, while exercising strong control over certain territories.

Another clan from Argentina that has achieved some notoriety is the Castedo Clan, originally from the province of Salta, in the north of the country. Its leader, Delfín Castedo, was captured in Bolivia and extradited to Argentina for cocaine trafficking. The clan enjoyed the support of local politicians and judges, like Raúl Reynoso, which allowed him to transport cocaine from Bolivia to Salta and later to the most important ports of the country. In addition, there is Clan Loza, whose leaders were accused of coordinating drug shipments to Europe.

Meanwhile, soccer gangs known as barras bravas are known to engage in a variety of criminal activities, and certain powerful trade unions have also developed criminal portfolios. Organized crime groups described as "Chinese mafia" have sprung up in Asian immigrant communities in Argentina, and reportedly have ties to larger structures in China.

Finally, transnational crime groups from other South American countries have tried to consolidate their operations in Argentina, and national groups have tried to imitate these larger syndicates. Brazil’s largest gang, the First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da Capital – PCC) has set its sights on expanding its presence in Argentina for years, as has its biggest rival, the Red Command (Comando Vermelho - CV). But the gangs have found it difficult to gain a foothold in Argentina, because the country largely has control of its prisons and has avoided the levels of extreme violence that these gangs use to consolidate power."

That is very exaggerated. The writer is confusing organized corruption, pandemic in most Latin American nations, with crime syndicates like the US Mafia and drug cartels.

Calling soccer fan mobs a "crime syndicate" is total exaggeration.

 

[Kelly A]

That is very exaggerated. The writer is confusing organized corruption, pandemic in most Latin American nations, with crime syndicates like the US Mafia and drug cartels.

I don't know... Looks to me like that's exactly what's been happening since you've been gone. Outside groups and influence.

 

[KilowattKat]

I have a little trick on getting annuals: "No Penalty Canellation" printed on the face. I have about 15% quit within the year. About 85% go all year and generally stay on after that. This afternoon I did 'upgrade' an annual by $100 a month...not a huge increase butv every little bit helps.

I'm old school. I visit clients. I know them, They know me. I know their business. I have their back. I only sell what I know will help them and I never exceed their budget. None of my competitors outdo the service I offer my accounts.

As for you, Oldbones, say I'm thin skinned. Fine. We've been in he business about the same number of years. As you know, county by county is sold by the demo at $800 a demo here. 35+ is our advertiser's sweet spot so that's the sheet we buy. We don't need it. I would think with as many years (like me) your remarks would not imply deception and falsehoods. How do you respond when it is implied you are lying? I will tell you I have not seen anything like KGAF except in such isolated markets where you were the only choice in the general area.

This shows that someone with the drive, initiative, hard work, creativity, and willing to go the extra mile, can take a situation where some will say it can't be done...and make it work. Great job, b-turner, radio needs more people like you.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Every electrical (and other) appliance or item heads to the trash. They're all environmentally unsound, including the cellphone in your pocket that will stop working when everything goes 5G and you find your present phone is a really cool looking paperweight (too small to be a doorstop).

Just like the last three or four were (I have a total of four in a drawer, myself -- three flip phones, and a 3G smartphone that no longer works on the system).

So what's the difference? The matter of time it takes to send it to the landfill? I suppose in that case you may indeed have a point.

Giving extra crap away or being stuck with it because nobody wants it is not the same as having used something through its lifecycle. It’s creating extra waste for the sake of extra waste.

 

[davideduardo]

I don't know... Looks to me like that's exactly what's been happening since you've been gone. Outside groups and influence.

I'm still directly involved with stations in Argentina as well as several of the neighbor nations. The article is what might be called "victimized by hyperbole".

 

[boombox4]

Giving extra crap away or being stuck with it because nobody wants it is not the same as having used something through its lifecycle. It’s creating extra waste for the sake of extra waste.

Understood. Most people under forty wouldn't use a freebie radio, even though they still work readily on FM. They're using their phone that will end up in a landfill in 15 years.

The only difference is the timeframe.