Reflecting a deeply divided community, a split Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Town Commission has voted to add “President Donald J. Trump” to the name of Sea Grape Drive.
The 3-2 vote came Wednesday night after almost three hours of sometimes heated comments, mostly from opponents, applause and jeers from both sides, as well as sometimes testy discussion by the commissioners.
The chasm over Trump is widespread across the country, but political divisions aren’t the norm in the small seaside town, a place that Southern Living magazine describes as “the old-fashioned beach town of our dreams” that comes “straight out of a Normal Rockwell painting.”
Opponents warned that the cherished vibe could be ruined by the addition of Trump’s name to Sea Grape Drive.
Supporters said it would be a plus for the town. Commissioner Richard DeNapoli, who sponsored the resolution adding Trump’s name, rejected arguments that it could hurt the town’s tourist-dependent economy. “This will not hurt tourism. On the contrary, it will enhance it. I think we all know nobody is canceling their beach plans because of a sign. Far from driving visitors away, this will be a draw. It could even bring a presidential visit.”
DeNapoli said opponents spread “misinformation” about the impact of Trump’s name addition. “This is not imposing on anyone’s daily life or creating burdens for residents or businesses. This simple co-designation is limited in scope to adding President Trump’s name to one single street sign at one intersection,” he said, adding that “the name Sea Grape Drive does not disappear.”
DeNapoli, a former chair of the Broward Republican Party and currently the Broward elected state Republican committeeman, said it was “not about politics. It’s about history, parity and fairness.” He said “many requests” had been made to him to advance the renaming.
Mayor Edmund Malkoon, who voted in favor of adding Trump’s name, said, “I don’t know why it has to be seen as so divisive. Honoring a president is an American tradition.”
Commissioner Theo Poulopoulos, who also voted “yes,” said said he was surprised that the issue generated such a strong response. “We need to end the division in this country.” When his position drew audience jeers, he responded, “Let’s all grow up.”
“What we’re really doing here is we’re recognizing Donald Trump’s patriotism,” Poulopoulos said.
Like DeNapoli, Makkoon and Poulopoulos also are Republicans, though commissioners run for the town jobs without party labels.
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Commissioner John Graziano, one of two “no” votes, is also a Republican.
“I can’t figure out why we have to do this. I am probably more Republican than anybody in this room, including the county chairman, including everybody up here. I am 81 years old. … I have been a registered Republican since I’ve been 18 years old.” He said he was a county Republican chairman years ago in New York.
“I don’t see any reason for this,” he said. ‘We have serious issues to deal with. This to me is not a serious issue,” he said. “I’m here to represent everybody who’s a resident of this town and that’s why I’m voting against this.”
Commissioner Randy Strauss, the only Democrat on the commission, also voted against the change.
“This proposal has gone over, at least in this room tonight, like a turd in a punch bowl. If you tried to be divisive, you hit a home run,” he said. “While some may see this as an honor I believe it would bring more harm than good to the community. I believe our streets’ names should unite us, not risk dividing neighbors.”
Strauss said it could change the town’s character. “Everyday conversations will be turning political. People will be asking what name do you use? Yard signs sprouting. Friendships for years being strained. And a once-friendly street feels divided,” he said.
At least 80 people signed up to speak before the discussion began; the meeting lasted so long some people had left by the time they were called to speak. Broward Republicans and county Democrats who live outside the town had been urging people for several days to show up.
Commissioner Richard DeNapoli presents his proposal to add “President Donald J. Trump Drive” to the name Sea Grape Drive in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea at a Town Commission meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Screen shot from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea video)
The Town Commission’s meeting room was packed with so many people attending that the mayor said some would need to watch a videostream from a patio outside.
The vast majority of speakers opposed adding Trump’s name to the drive. DeNapoli said that didn’t accurately reflect the views of residents. He said some supporters of the idea were afraid because of the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk earlier in the day in Utah.
“My responsibility is to represent all of those voices, not only the ones in this room tonight,” DeNapoli said. “The facts are President Trump has clearly got a lot of supporters in town.” Unlike the rest of Broward County, which supports Democratic presidential candidates, Trump won Lauderdale-by-the-Sea in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
Michael Ferguson said he was a longtime resident who recently returned to town after serving as a prosecutor in the Air Force.
“When I was overseas representing our country, I looked forward to coming back here. Seeing that sign outside town that says ‘relax, you’re here.’ Seeing my family. Walking my dog down Sea Grape Drive,” he said. “Adding Donald Trump’s name to that street doesn’t remind me of the mentality of ‘relax, you’re here.’”
John DeGregory, a longtime resident of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, expresses opposition to adding “President Donald J. Trump Drive” to the name Sea Grape Drive at a Town Commission meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Screen shot from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea video)
Ferguson termed the plan “disgraceful,” telling commissioners: “Serve the people you honor, not your dear leader in Washington.”
Linda Thompson Gonzalez, a 25-year resident who is an unsuccessful past Democratic candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, told commissioners the change “works against the family-friendly vibe that has for so long really brought success to our tourism and promoted a strong sense of community among all of us.”
Resident John DeGregory, said he felt compelled to speak out. “This is an abomination,” he said. “I’m everything that this party that is sponsoring this is against: I’m gay. I was a teacher. I was a union member. … This is just everything I’m against. Everything.”
Patrick Ucci, a 22-year resident, urged commissioners to vote yes. “We’re talking about a sitting president, elected twice, if not more. And also someone who sits within 40 miles” of the town when Trump is at his Mar-a-Lago home and club in Palm Beach.
Mayor Edmund Malkoon supported a proposal to add “President Donald J. Trump Drive” to the name Sea Grape Drive at a Town Commission meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Screen shot from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea video)
Heather Quinones, a 28-year resident, said she favored the change, and objected to out-of-towners offering their views about what the town should do. “If you don’t live here, there’s no need for you to come up here and speak.”
Quinones made her comments immediately after a strong pitch in favor of the change delivered by Rico Petrocelli — a resident of Plantation and former member of his City Council and former Broward Republican Party chairman.
Petrocelli praised DeNapoli’s “courage” for proposing the addition of Trump’s name and said it would benefit the town. “There is nobody I know who’s going to say, ‘I’m not going to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, this beautiful place for years because they have a little different (street) name,” he said. “It’s not going to happen.”
Political writer Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea commissioners voted 3-2 to add “President Donald J. Trump Drive” as a second name for Sea Grape Drive in the town. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
