AI issues? Vero Beach should reconsider professionalism of Three Corners submissions
As a Vero Beach native, the Three Corners project represents the area’s most exciting development in my lifetime. Unfortunately, based on the recent City Council vote, I fear we may fumble this generational opportunity.
In selecting SuDa’s proposal, we put this project in the hands of a developer whose plans show a staggering lack of detail. Most glaring is the apparent saturation of AI-generated images and the lack of architectural renderings in SuDa’s updated proposal. As a software engineer working in generative AI, I see telltale signs — jumbled words, inconsistent backgrounds, blurred objects and distorted humans ― in nearly every image, including the headline image: a version of the power plant with a pedestrian gateway.
For those unfamiliar, generative AI allows a text prompt, such as “architectural rendering of a food hall in an industrial space” to be turned into an image automatically. Such images, while impressive, cannot replace architectural work.
This cannot be overstated: SuDa’s updated proposal appears to contain AI-generated images rather than actual designs. SuDa admitted in a City Council meeting its architects had not been inside the power plant. Vice Mayor Linda Moore asked SuDa whether the images are physically possible, a question which, without architectural and engineering work, could not possibly be answered. Thus, we have no way of knowing what will ultimately be built. Furthermore, without detailed plans, any cost projections provided are dubious at best, making the financial risk assessment, raised as a key consideration, highly suspect.
Contrast this with Clearpath’s proposal: detailed renderings from an established architecture firm, in-depth business plans and a cohesive vision for how Vero’s limited public waterfront could be most effectively utilized. The proposal showed a level of professionalism unmatched by the other options.
Our leaders should reconsider Clearpath’s proposal. Should they stay the course, voters should demand SuDa provide detailed plans before any further commitments are made.
Paul Colella, Vero Beach
Asbury Park fallout: Beware of chosen partners for Three Corners
We are saddened to hear that Madison Marquette will be in any way involved with a waterfront development.
MM has failed to fulfill its obligations on the Asbury Park, N.J., waterfront. Some of the property under MM control was operational at the time the firm agreed to preserve it, but some is now closed.
Historic copper facade ornaments were "lost." Ceilings have collapsed, closing bars and restaurants. MM agreed to historic preservation to cinch the contract. Still, almost 20 years later, it has barely begun.
Small businesses are promised the derelict locations. Owners gear up for an opening at their own expense, but the boardwalk sites are never finished or opened. Presumably, MM is just waiting to be bought out.
Good luck, Vero Beach.
Mark Tyler, Port Chester, New York
Trump's mass deportation would have major consequences
“Mass Deportation Would Be a Disaster“ is the title of a May 29 Wall Street Journal opinion column written by William A. Galston.
A highlighted portion reads: “Illegal immigration is a real problem, but Trump doesn’t have a serious solution.“
Galston works for the Wall Street Journal, which has the same owner as Fox News and other conservative news outlets, so the fact he wrote this piece and it was published in the Wall Street Journal is significant. Americans with inflexible views on immigration may benefit from reading it.
Notable passages include:
The U.S. fertility rate has fallen below the replacement rate in most years since 1970, meaning fewer working adults entering the workforce to replace retirees, leading to labor shortages ― unless immigration makes up the difference.
“Many Americans fear that foreign-born workers will take jobs away from native born workers, but immigrants often do the lower-paying, physically demanding, less-desirable types of work that keep businesses afloat.”
“The immigration surge also has exacerbated fears about crime, even though a recent study from Northwestern University found that immigrants are less likely to be in incarcerated than people born in the U.S.”
Fears that immigrants are failing to learn English and accept America’s political principles and assimilate to our culture are mostly misplaced.
Donald Trump, in a recent interview with Time magazine, “said that in a second term he would launch a mass deportation operation” and “Whatever Mr. Trump might say, his plan realistically can’t be conducted without mass detention. Mass deportations would also hurt the economy, leave many employers with jobs they can’t fill, trigger legal resistance and throw the country into chaos.”
Finally, Glaston stated: “If President (Joe) Biden doesn’t take bold emergency action and offer a serious alternative plan before November, Mr. Trump may well prevail on this issue, with disastrous consequences.“
Thomas M. Going, Vero Beach
Fight against Biden changes regarding Title IX
As chairman of Moms for Liberty in Indian River County, I am deeply concerned about the President Joe Biden administration’s recent revisions to Title IX.
These changes, which redefine "sex" to include "gender identity," not only compromise the safety and privacy of students, but also undermine the very essence of parental rights in education. Since its inception, Title IX has been a critical framework for ensuring equal opportunities for all students, particularly in protecting the rights and advancements of girls in educational and athletic fields.
Specifically, Title IX states that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
The proposed regulations drastically shift this balance, posing a great risk to the fairness and privacy in our schools. They mandate schools to adopt policies that could endanger the well-being of students and strip parents of their rights to guide their children’s education according to their values.
Moms for Liberty stands firm in opposition to these changes. We are mobilizing parents, educators and policymakers to safeguard our children’s education from these harmful policies.
We will coordinate efforts to oppose this overreach through advocacy and direct engagement with legislators to ensure that the original protective measures of Title IX remain intact.
Please join us in this fight by voicing your concerns to your local school boards, state legislators and Congress. It is only through intentional action that we can protect our children and preserve our rights as parents. We must fight to keep our schools safe and free from misguided federal mandates that do not reflect the best interests of our children or our country. Peggy Jones supported the Biden changes at the school board's last meeting.
Jennifer Pippin, Sebastian
Trump trial democracy in action
I believe in democracy and the rule of law even when I don't agree with some of its outcomes.
One of the strongest pillars of democracy is the judicial system, and within that system is the right to a trial by a jury of one's peers. Our neighbors decide based on the evidence presented by two opposing sides whether we are guilty or innocent of the actions with which we are accused.
That is what happened to Donald Trump.
Joan Fox, Vero Beach
A trial starts, Biden back to Tammany Hall tactics
The old Tammany Hall is back in its liberal vicious glory.
Joe Biden and his goons are exhibiting all the crooked, nasty behavior of the past. They brought in Robert DeNiro, expertly playing the part of the famous killer crook Al Capone, with his entourage of evil giants trailing behind him, and threatening America and her people.
Seems like Joe Biden has been awakened from his trance by the gang and, been fed something to get himgoing, verbally and physically,to play his role as the Tammany Hall boss.
I pray all day that the Lord will save America and us by allowing Donald Trump to be voted again into the Oval Office as our leader. Contrary to the drivel spewed forth by DeNiro,Trump will be our only salvation.
Nancy Celano, Sebastian
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach must reconsider professionalism of Three Corners applicants
