The late Massachusetts Congressman Tip O'Neill famously said, "All politics is local."

The reactions to New York Governor David Paterson's furlough proposal shows O'Neill was correct.

When Paterson decided to furlough SUNY staffers one day a week, reducing their income by 20 percent, a spate of angry e-mails erupted on the Plattsburgh State listserve.

After reading those e-mails, this newspaper editorialized that there was: "No sympathy for selfish profs." Indeed, many of the messages were tone-deaf to the plight of others during this economic downturn, arrogant and self-absorbed in their sense of isolation from the problems many are facing.

MISUNDERSTANDINGS

In a letter to the editor five days later, however, David Curry, a nursing professor and president of the United University Professions at Plattsburgh, objected to the editorial. Curry wrote that the Press-Republican misread the e-mail it quoted, for though it "appeared uncaring toward our students, this is not the case. Sarcasm is not easily conveyed in e-mail."

Curry then described the impact of the furloughs on workers and their ability to pay their bills, such as mortgage payments.

The next day, Plattsburgh State's Distinguished Service Professor Nancy Church also took the newspaper to task in a very well-organized "In My Opinion." She wrote that the editorial was "inflammatory, divisive" and omitted important facts. For example, Church noted that many professors and administrators will teach an extra course next year, "at no extra pay, which is a major contribution to the state's budget crisis."

One day later, Plattsburgh State Economics Professor Colin Read, who contributes a regular column, "Everybody's Business," for the Press-Republican, also wrote about furloughs.

Like Curry, Read is sensitive to the "great hardship ... a 20 percent pay decline, however temporary" will cause. But Read believes the furlough proposal might have been avoided if public servants had declined salary increases negotiated earlier, "rather than demand a larger slice of a rapidly shrinking pie."

RISE ABOVE ALBANY

As an employee of the Press-Republican and an adjunct lecturer in Plattsburgh's Communication Department and proud union member, I also have an opinion about the furlough/e-mail/editorial debacle.

First, an abrupt 20-percent decrease in income is a horrible solution to New York's financial mess. Many of us live in a financial house of cards — the money comes in and goes out very quickly to pay the mortgage, college tuition, the car, the orthodontist, etc. Reduce income by one-fifth and devastating consequences will ripple far beyond the public servants targeted by Paterson.

Second, most of the e-mails were very ill-advised. The whining should have been said over coffee — not the Internet.

Third, perhaps the P-R's editorial wasn't as complete as it should have been, but it's hard to have sympathy for e-mailers who sound so entitled. And Nancy Church's response effectively balanced the P-R's viewpoint.

Fourth, I agree with Colin Read — the union should have returned to the negotiating table to modify agreements made before this calamity struck. These are unusual times and insisting "a contract is a contract" is simplistic and short-sighted.

Unfortunately, this discussion has not improved the town/gown relationship between the community and the college. Plattsburgh State is a wonderful resource, not just for students but for everyone. The art galleries, athletic teams, theater productions such as "Almost, Maine," and the recent Gospel Choir concert — these are treasures.

Especially now, after such an acrimonious airing of views, Plattsburgh State needs to renew its outreach to the community, the community needs to take advantage of the opportunities the college provides, and this newspaper needs to remind readers of the good the college brings to the area.

We shouldn't let decisions made in Albany ruin what can be a positive relationship, where the college is a big part of the lives of everyone in the community and the community is an enthusiastic participant in the life of the college.

Jerry McGovern, the Press-Republican's coordinator of Newspapers-in-Education, taught in New York state's public schools, and now teaches in the Communication Department of Plattsburgh State. He can be reached at gmcgovern@pressrepublican.com or 565-4126. This column is the opinion of the writer and not necessarily of this newspaper.