New song · about our three neighbors

They Stepped Up

Not for a party, not for a crown. For the love of this little town.

The lyric video. Tap play, sound on. Just the song (MP3)

The lyrics

Verse 1Sunrise on El Mar, coffee in my hand Same little town, same stretch of sand But Town Hall quit listening, cut us down to two Thirty-three said “no,” and they pushed it on through Pre-chorusSome folks just grumble, some folks just shrug But three of our neighbors said, “Hand me the shovel, love.” No speeches, no title, no party to please Just folks who love this town like the salt in the breeze ChorusThey stepped up! (Stepped up!) Not for a party, not for a crown! They stepped up! (Stepped up!) For the love of this little town! Randy, Howard and Patrick Neighbors through and through They stepped up for us Now it’s our turn to step up too!Verse 2Their mailers come glossy, paid in Tallahassee Their slate’s on a door-hanger, printed nice and classy Seat 2’s other fella? Not one donor from here Patrick’s got thirty-four, and the reason is clear Pre-chorusRandy said “no” all eight times, every time on the tape Howard chairs the Chamber, keeps Main Street in shape Patrick helped the neighbors write a petition by hand That’s what it looks like when you take a stand ChorusThey stepped up! (Stepped up!) Not for a party, not for a crown! They stepped up! (Stepped up!) For the love of this little town! Randy, Howard and Patrick Neighbors through and through They stepped up for us Now it’s our turn to step up too!BridgeEight little changes, tied up in one bow Longer terms, and ethics sent where we’ll never know If a change is a good one, it’ll come back on its own So it’s NO on all eight, and we’re keepin’ it home! Final chorusThey stepped up! (Stepped up!) Not for a party, not for a crown! They stepped up! (Stepped up!) For the love of this little town! Early voting ends on Sunday Election Day, November three They stepped up for us Now step up for LBTS!TagRandy, Howard, Patrick… they stepped up. Town first since forty-seven… they stepped up.

Every line, on the record

  • “Cut us down to two”: on March 10, 2026, the Mayor cut public comment from three minutes to two, with 46 people signed up to speak.
  • “Thirty-three said no”: 33 of the 37 residents who spoke on September 10, 2025 asked the Commission to vote no on the street sign. It passed 3–2.
  • “Paid in Tallahassee”: the “Vote YES on 1–8” mailer was paid for by Florida Taxpayers Defense, 115 East Park Avenue, Suite 1, Tallahassee.
  • “Their slate’s on a door-hanger”: a political party’s 2026 door-hanger endorses Malkoon, Poulopoulos and Bartholomew together.
  • “Not one donor from here”: Justin Bartholomew’s campaign reports list no donors who live in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea; Patrick Ferguson’s list 34.
  • “Randy said no all eight times”: he voted against putting the charter changes on the ballot (Ordinance 2026-04).
  • The bridge is opinion: our view of the eight charter changes, including Question 6, which moves ethics removals to a state board.

All of it, with links: the “They stepped up” email.

♫ Hear all the songs: the LBTS playlist

November 3 · Mayor: Randy Strauss · Seat 1: Howard Goldberg · Seat 2: Patrick Ferguson · NO on all 8 charter changes

Satire and opinion set to music, from Let’s Protect Our Paradise. Beach photo: Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. Candidate photos from the candidates’ campaigns.