Giovanni "Jimmy Kelly" DeSalvio, a champion boxer and Tammany Hall leader, supported NYC's Little Italy through philanthropy, creating “Jimmy Kelly’s Momart” and aiding locals with figures like Joe DiMaggio. After a failed boxing career, became a gangster under Mike Salter. Following Salter's flight from the U.S. over election fraud charges, Kelly took over as a Tammany ward heeler, engaging in gang conflicts, notably with Humpty Jackson. His exploits bridged the worlds of politics and organized crime. He managed ward politics, navigated gang wars, and represented the era’s blend of crime and influence, playing key roles in Little Italy’s history.
