No Bernie Sanders. But The Show Will Go On At Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Meeting

Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders may have declined their invitation, but that doesn’t mean you should miss the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association’s panel discussion about the corrupting influence of money in politics.

The meeting takes place Thursday, October 15, at 7:30pm in the Carmine Carro Community Center near Fillmore Avenue and Madison Place. Panelists include City Councilman Jumaane Williams, the Center for an Urban Future’s senior researcher Adam Foreman, and former director of the NY Civil Liberties Union Norman Siegel. The panel will be moderated by City & State’s opinion editor Nick Powell.

“The topic relates to the subject of large donors and political action committees controlling issues and access to elected office holders. At the local level, we often hear of real estate developers buying up the ‘playing fields’ and ‘steering’ electeds,’” Ed Jaworski, president of the civic group, said in an email. “We also invited Senator Bernie Sanders, who grew up in this neighborhood (East 26 St. & Kings Highway), but now it is unlikely his presidential campaign schedule will allow him to participate.”

Although Senator Sanders declined the invitation, he did send a signed letter to the group thanking them for organizing the event. Jawarksi said he plans to distribute copied of the letter during the meeting.