Summit Common Council Candidate Profile: Danny O'Sullivan

SUMMIT, NJ — New Jersey's Primary Election Day is coming up on June 7, and two candidates are running to be re-elected to Summit's Common Council.

Incumbents Danny O'Sullivan and Lisa Allen are running unopposed to keep their seats on the council this year.

Patch sent out questionnaires to local candidates and will run profiles for those running this year.

Below are Democratic candidate Danny O'Sullivan's answers:

Name:

Danny O'Sullivan

Email:

votedannyosullivan@gmail.com

Campaign website:

www.votedannyosullivan.org

Seeking the Office of:

Councilman Ward I on Summit Common Council

Party affiliation:

Democratic Party

Educational background:

Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from
Fordham University, Gabelli School of Business

Occupation:

I’m an avid volunteer and a substitute teacher in Summit Public Schools

Family:

I’ve been married to Sharon for 25 years and we have 3 children – Sam, Olivia, and Ronan. Sam is a recent college graduate, Olivia is a junior in college, and Ronan is finishing his sophomore year of high school..

Does anyone in my family work in politics or government:

No

Why are you seeking re-election?

I’m seeking re-election to continue the good work we’ve already accomplished in areas such as fiscal responsibility, outdoor recreation spaces, sustainability, and to strategically move Summit forward into a secure future.

What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Summit constituents at this time? What do
you intend to do about it?

Two issues that are consistently at the top of the list of concerns for Summit’s residents are taxes and safety. People want to know that they are getting value for their tax dollars and they want to feel safe in their community. The record is clear on municipal taxes. We have consistently delivered budgets with near zero increases or slight upticks by making tough but responsible choices while delivering the services our residents have come to expect. These budgets will help ensure a financially secure future for our City and retain our Triple A bond rating from all major rating agencies. I am proud to say our beautiful town is highly maintained whether it’s our historic downtown, our parks, our roads, or our sports facilities.

The other issue that concerns residents is the safety of their families. We have the finest police force in the State of New Jersey. Council has helped make it safer for our pedestrians with traffic calming measures all over town to help reduce speeding and improve sightlines. There is more work to be done but the City is on the right track. It is vital that we stay focused on pedestrian safety because this is a walking community and we need to ensure that it remains safe for all of our residents.

The proposed Broad Street West redevelopment has caused a lot of dialogue in Summit. What
are your hopes for this new development? Do you have any concerns about it?

My hopes for the Broad Street West redevelopment are that the finished product addresses many of the community’s needs. One of Summit’s greatest needs is affordable housing. Broad Street West will provide a diverse selection of housing that will include affordable, workforce, and market rate housing. The City has a legal, and I believe a moral obligation, to get to 50 affordable housing units by 2025. These apartments will help get us closer to our goal. The proposed workforce apartments are an unaddressed area of the rental market. They will be priced at 120% of the regional median income level and fall between the affordable and market rate apartments adding even more income diversity to the building. The market rate apartments will fill a segment of the marketplace that Summit lacks right now.

Residents that are looking to downsize from their home without sacrificing their current amenities will now have a viable option that will enable them to remain in Summit. Besides the diversity of housing options, my hope is that BSW becomes a neighborhood that enhances and complements our historic downtown. The residents that will occupy this building will be centrally located with the convenience to walk to town, the train, or to the park. Right now, BSW has a very old firehouse and parking lots and is not a very attractive part of Summit. With the new streetscape, native plantings, and buried utility wires, BSW will be transformed into an area that we will all be proud of. On the financial side, the sale of the land will provide The City with a
large lump sum payment and a stream of revenue through a 30-year PILOT (payment in lieu of
taxes). This needed revenue will go a long way towards helping the City manage its debt load in
the coming years. Currently our debt service is the third largest line item in our budget.

My main concern about Broad Street West is that this is an enormous undertaking and it’s been very challenging. My wife and I moved here in 2006 and I started hearing about redevelopment almost immediately. I know that residents have been talking about it for more than 30 years. There’s a reason why it was talked about but never done – it’s really difficult. The transparent process and ongoing public dialogue alleviate my concern and boost my confidence regarding Broad Street West. There have been multiple public outreach sessions going back to 2016 and we have consistently engaged our constituents at Council meetings and in one-on-one conversations. The current Council has listened intently and done the necessary due diligence and we will continue to do so.

Summit has seen an increase in car thefts over the past year or so. Do you think the city is doing enough to combat this issue? If not, what needs to be done to prevent thefts?

It’s not only Summit that has seen an increase in car thefts but many other towns and areas of the country are experiencing this criminal activity as well. As I mentioned earlier, we have the finest police force in the State of New Jersey and I am extremely confident in their ability to manage this issue. Without going into too many details about police tactics, there has been a renewed effort to increase community education and outreach. Besides that, Summit Police are patrolling our neighborhoods using a grid system where 8-10 streets are grouped together and routinely tracked and patrolled. We have seen the results with fewer thefts recently and many incidents that have been deterred. Car thefts in Summit have been exacerbated by key fobs being left in unlocked vehicles. As much attention as our police force is giving this issue, they also need help from the public. If more residents remove their key fobs and lock their vehicles consistently, it will greatly reduce thefts, deter criminal activity, and also keep our officers safer.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My whole life of experiences has prepared me for this job. From growing up in the Bronx, to graduating from Bayonne High School, to playing basketball all over the world, I’ve learned to strive and compete for a better life for myself and my family. My life’s path has exposed me to different communities and people from all different backgrounds. I bring these experiences with me to Council everyday.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

When it comes to my positions it comes down to a few things:

• I am fiscally responsible with the residents’ tax dollars as evidenced by the recent budgets
• I am focused on pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures. My wife and I walk agreat deal and we have always allowed our children the freedom to walk to their friends’ house and to town. Summit is a very safe place but we need to constantly evaluate changing needs and ensure we remain a safe place to live and walk for all.
• In my first year on Council I was absolutely thrilled to be involved in the first Pridecelebrations in Summit. I believe we should continue to be a welcoming and inclusive community.
• I love our outdoor spaces in Summit and it is a priority of mine to upgrade and enhance these spaces so that more people can enjoy them. The basketball courts at Memorial and Tatlock were recently renovated. The City is in the process of doing a Master Plan on all of our playgrounds and we have set aside money in this year's budget to renovate Mabie playground in the near future.

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