History

In 1949, a twenty-four part series of articles for the New York Sun titled, "Crime on the Waterfront" exposed the culture of corruption, extortion, racketeering and organized crime in the Port of New York-New Jersey.  Subsequent public hearings held by the New York State Crime Commission demonstrated that the occupations of longshoremen, stevedores,  pier  superintendents, hiring  agents  and port watchmen were affected with a public interest requiring their regulation for the protection of the public safety, welfare, prosperity, health, peace and living conditions of the people of New York and New Jersey.  In 1953, the two states formed the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor through a congressionally approved compact as a concerted drive against organized crime in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area.

For seventy years, the bi-state commission worked to break the cycle of corruption in the port of New York district, and effectuated transformative changes on the waterfront.  Its efforts led to the conviction of organized-crime members and associates for murder, extortion, drug trafficking, theft, racketeering, illegal gambling, and loansharking, among other crimes.  In recent years, its investigations led to prosecutions of union officials and members of the traditional organized crime families which have been found to control or exert significant influence over the union of dockworkers and commercial activity on the waterfront.  Its investigations also led to the exclusion or removal from the Port workforce of individuals who were convicted of serious crimes or were associated with organized crime.  The bi-state commission worked to overcome discrimination and other unfair hiring practices, and continued to extirpate corruption and racketeering until its dissolution in 2023. 

Although law enforcement’s efforts against traditional organized crime influence have been successful, such influence remains a significant threat in the New York metropolitan area, particularly in the port.  Continued oversight is essential to ensure fair and nondiscriminatory hiring practices, to eliminate labor racketeering and the victimization of legitimate union members and port businesses, and to prevent organized crime figures from directly operating at the critical points of interstate and international shipping.

In 2023, the New York Waterfront Commission was enacted to carry on that mission in the Port of New York.