Buffalo’s construction unions aren’t much into ivory towers. But when they see a plan that would call for a fair amount of bricks and mortar to rise around our city, they are wise to explain to the leaders of the New York State Legislature that lawmakers who want to stay on the good side of organized labor will support the University at Buffalo’s ambitious expansion plans.

A pointed letter to that effect was sent recently by Paul Brown, president of the Buffalo Building and Construction Trades Council, to Sheldon Silver, speaker of the New York Assembly. While politicians might take exception to what could be seen as its threatening tone, the letter should make it clear that it is more than the university establishment that has a stake in the success of the university’s vision.

There’s no town-gown rivalry here.

UB 2020, as it is known, is the drive by UB President John B. Simpson to turn the university that is already a major economic engine for Western New York into a much larger, more productive research institution. It is a vision that is much more than mere academic turf-building, promising not only jobs for the building trades but ongoing work that builds knowledge, attracts top minds and creates spin-off businesses that offer good-paying jobs.

To make it happen, UB needs the Assembly to pass a bill that would grant the university enough self-determination to set its own tuition rates and more freely enter into partnerships with private business.

That bill was passed by the Senate, before it fell into a humiliating disarray, but has been bogged down in the Assembly. Reasons probably include some sincere concerns about fragmenting the State University of New York system, as well as some selfish worries that other schools in the system are somehow going to be left behind.

But just as there is no need to tie UB down while the other SUNY schools get organized, there is no need for anyone, in the long run, to be left out.

With Simpson’s vision as an example, and what promises to be the energetic leadership of new SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher, UB 2020 can easily serve as an example of how each of the system’s 64 campuses can play to its own strengths and find ways to best serve its communities and the state.

Brown’s call on Silver to pass the UB legislation included some not-so-veiled threats of a primary election challenge to Silver’s re-election, as well as that of Kenmore Democratic Assemblyman Robin Schimminger. Brown insists he is reporting that such threats have been made by others, and do not originate with him.

Maybe.

It would be too bad if the necessary UB 2020 legislation was adopted in a way that made the university any enemies in the process. But the legislation should be passed.

In the long run, it will benefit Buffalo, and the whole of New York, in greater and more sustainable ways than any mere distribution of taxpayer funds or tax breaks.