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City denies Sanders presidential campaign a rally permit - but says he can reapply

The city has denied a permit to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign for a rally in South Philadelphia a day before the Democratic National Convention, but has said the campaign can apply for a different site.

The city has denied a permit to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign for a rally in South Philadelphia a day before the Democratic National Convention, but has said the campaign can apply for a different site.

The Sanders campaign had sought a July 24 rally with an estimated crowd of 15,000 to 40,000 at the Richie Ashburn baseball field in FDR Park.

A campaign spokesman said in early June that it wanted to have a "traditional Bernie campaign rally."

In a Monday rejection letter, Jazelle M. Jones, a deputy managing director, said the field was subject to a multiparty agreement that does not allow nonrecreational uses.

Jones said the city could not recommend an alternative location, but welcomed "the submission of a revised application by your organization with a different staging area, time and/or route."

Lauren Hitt, a spokeswoman for Mayor Kenney, said Friday that it was not too late for the campaign to reapply for another location in FDR Park.

The DNC will take place in the Wells Fargo Center from July 25 to 28. FDR Park is across Broad Street from the sports complex.

Sanders, who endorsed presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, is scheduled to speak on the first night of the convention.

Whether his campaign still wanted the permit was unclear. A spokesman for the campaign could not be reached for comment.

Other pro-Sanders permits have been approved by the city. A group of local grassroots supporters has received city permits for four demonstration areas in FDR Park. Also, planned marches for Sanders have been approved.

bmoran@phillynews.com

215-854-5983 @RobertMoran215