Today, the MTA board approved a new 5 year capital rebuilding plan, including substantial budget cuts for station repairs and new subway cars. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement:

“This terrible budget means years of broken down subway cars and dilapidated stations for middle class straphangers.

“But the real story is how we ever got to this point in the first place.

“The Mayor has cut $25 million a year from the City’s contribution to the MTA’s capital budget.

“His West Side stadium deal gave away the MTA’s most valuable asset at far below market price.

“And his ‘you get more with honey than vinegar’ dealings with Albany and Washington has cost us millions more.

“We need a fighter for middle class straphangers in City Hall. Instead we’ve got ‘Silent Mike.’

“Dirty stations and endless service delays aren’t so bad when you can always take your limo to work. But most of us aren’t quite so lucky.”

Weiner proposes a reorganization of the MTA executive board to give the City control over the subways.

Under the Weiner plan, the Mayor would get 8 appointments and the Governor’s share would be reduced to 4.

Mayor Bloomberg has reduced the City’s contribution to the MTA capital plan from $100 million a year to $75 million a year between 2002 and 2005.

Since 2000, the State’s contribution to the MTA capital fund—the money used to fix things—has been zero. But instead of fighting for control of the MTA, Bloomberg’s stayed on the sidelines.