Michael Spanky Rabinowitz in Talos is an obvious reference to Providence's former Buddy Cianci mayor (now serving time for racketeering, Operation Plunder Dome, best FBI code name ever). Buddy is well known for his corruption, which unfortunately has overshadowed his immense accomplishments in turning Providence into a great city. Until his latest conviction, Rhode Island had the distinction of being the only state capitol with a convicted felon as mayor, DC is not a state and does not count. In his first run in with the law he had two state policeman hold down his best friend while he beat him with a burning log and put cigarettes out on him (the guy was cheating with Cianci's wife...)
In Steel Canyon, several districts have the name of metals in their name. Rhode Island is the metal plating capitol of the US. Also in Providence there is a district called Silver Lake
Frank
