Staunton Island

Lore & Background

The lore of Staunton Island is defined by its role as a battleground for the city's competing Mafia organizations during 1998. The district was central to the power struggle involving the Leone, Sindacco, and Forelli families. Fort Staunton exemplified this volatility; it started as a 'Little Italy' enclave but became mostly destroyed due to storyline events, eventually serving as a construction site by the time of Grand Theft Auto III in 2001. The area also hosted the corrupt mayor Roger C. Hole's administration until his assassination by Toni Cipriani while jogging in Belleville Park on Salvatore Leone's orders. This political turmoil allowed the Sicilian Mafia underboss Massimo Torini to orchestrate a wider mob war, rigging mayoral elections and manipulating figures like Donald Love to gain control over the city.

In Their Own Story

Toni Cipriani's journey through Staunton Island was marked by high-stakes betrayals and violent confrontations. After escaping an ambush set by Vincenzo Cilli, Toni worked with JD O'Toole against the Sindacco family before witnessing Salvatore Leone have JD killed for suspected betrayal. The island became a refuge when Mayor Hole attempted to arrest Salvatore, forcing both men to flee to Staunton Island together. There, Toni assassinated Hole in Belleville Park, securing his status as a 'made man' and earning his mother's approval. Later, while Salvatore was imprisoned, Toni operated from within the district to kill Don Paulie Sindacco and sabotage Yakuza operations led by Kazuki Kasen, including intercepting a van transporting money directly from the Kasen compound.

Reader's Guide

To navigate Staunton Island effectively in Liberty City Stories, players must utilize the ferry service as the primary link to Portland until later story progression alters access. The area features Fort Staunton, which serves as a key location for missions involving explosives and redevelopment plans orchestrated by Donald Love. Players should expect intense police presence due to the corruption of Mayor Roger C. Hole, who was secretly controlled by the Forelli family. Key objectives include assassinating targets like the mayor in Belleville Park and infiltrating Yakuza compounds to steal military hardware such as a Rhino tank. The island also hosts critical story moments where Toni confronts Massimo Torini at a lighthouse and rescues the kidnapped mayoral candidate Miles O'Donovon.

Did You Know?

• In 1998, the Callahan Bridge was unfinished, making a ferry service the only link between Staunton Island and Portland.
• Fort Staunton began as a 'Little Italy' district but was mostly destroyed by 2001, becoming a construction site.
• Mayor Roger C. Hole was assassinated by Toni Cipriani while jogging in Belleville Park on the orders of Salvatore Leone.
• The island was the site where Massimo Torini orchestrated a mob war and rigged the mayoral elections before his death at a lighthouse.