“Silent Mike” is at it again.

Instead of fighting for New Yorkers, he’s backing down from a fight.

Two weeks ago, he said that New York City has done "reasonably well" in securing homeland security funding from Washington D.C. [source: New York Daily News, 4/13/05] even though Wyoming received $38 per person last year, compared with New York's $5.50.

Yesterday, he said that recent allegations of sexual abuse of students by teachers in New York City schools are “business as usual” and “not a huge scandal”. [source: New York Post, 4/22/05]

And today, on his radio show, he said that despite the recent epidemic of delays and disruptions on our subways “in all fairness” the MTA “works pretty hard.”

It’s just the latest example of Mayor Mike’s you get more with honey than with vinegar world view.

“It’s easy to have a laissez-faire attitude towards the subways when you can always take your limo to work,” said Rep. Weiner.

“New Yorkers don’t need excuses, they need to get to work on time. But instead of fighting for straphangers, Silent Mike is backing down from a fight--again. Most of us stopped getting ‘As’ for effort in the first grade.

"This November voters will have a fundamental choice between business as usual and my plan to take on the tough fights for our schools, subways, and security funds."

Anthony Weiner has proposed a comprehensive plan to improve our transit system, including:

• Give New York City Majority Control of the MTA Board – Weiner proposes recalibrating the MTA board to include 8 votes for the City (up from the current 4), and reducing the Governor’s voting block to 4, to ensure City control of our subways and transit purse strings.
  
• Fast Ferry Service to Relive Pressure on the Subway System – Weiner proposes expanding fast ferry service to neighborhoods like Red Hook, Long Island City, Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, Coney Island, Bayside and the areas around LaGuardia and JFK airports.
  
• Create “Bus Rapid Transit” System – Weiner proposes creating bus only lanes in well-traveled areas to speed travel times and increase ridership by 15-150%.