Commuters crowd sidewalk by  Grand Central terminal as they wait for a taxi Wednesday morning, Dec. 21, 2005

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called for an immediate end to the public transit strike that has shut down the city's subways and buses for a second day.

Taking a tough line, the mayor repeatedly called the strike "selfish and illegal."  He said the city has asked for a temporary restraining order against the transport union workers, which would subject them to additional penalties for participating in the strike. He said workers are already losing two days' pay for each day of the strike.

Hours after the strike started Tuesday, a judge imposed a $1 million a day fine on the union for each day the city's subways and buses are shut down.

Mayor Bloomberg said restaurant profits are down by 40 percent since the strike started, and the number of shoppers in stores has been cut in half.