Dude ... that's only what you've seen on the surface.
A long time ago, in a city far far away, I lived near by a section of town that was controled by the Korean mob.
The facade was simple ... chinese restaurants, a newspaper/stationery shop, etc. And the headquarters of it were the offices of a Korean commerce association (today it's billed as some sort of Korean think tank, but still at the same address).
Behind the facade were K-Mob controlled AMPs and casinos ... complete with guards wearing black and sunglasses at night, in a half-lit building.
It was so bizzare ... once the main chinese restaurant closed, on the level above it, they opened the casino in a room that was for Employees Only... with blue, green and pink neon lights ... swirling disco lights ... thumping disco ... and girls wearing satin and sequin party dresses ... an AMP was on the level above that.
The lights in the restaurant would be off, but the street-level door was left unlocked, and slightly ajar. You could see the swirl of disco lights on that level at night, when the door to the casino was open. There would usually be a dude with sunglasses standing watch, either right by the door, or on the 1st landing.
They rotated the girls between the AMP and the restaurants. They were shuttled back and forth in minivans, driven by the gurads. You could see them being herded in and out every morning and night ... kind of like a hooker clown car.
The cops shut down the main AMP after some dude got passed the sunglassed guard on the stairwell ... got to the AMP ... and hacked up one of the girls ... If I remember the newspaper report correctly, with a sword.
If I'm not mistaken, the K-Mob opened the place up again a year later ... but the cops were all over it ... sitting in their squad cars right outside the door.
Now, I know that this is a different city and a different time ... but if someone says that they have it on good info that these drivers are K-Mob guards ... I'm inclined to believe it.
It shouldn't really bother you ... unless you try to be a wise-ass with them, or a mob war breaks out while you're stolling across 32nd ... just don't forget to Duck & Cover!!!