By Mike Dunn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A city councilman is calling on Philadelphians to spend time this week showing their appreciation to firefighters. And in doing so, he is taking a direct shot at Mayor Nutter.

Councilman Jim Kenney, whose father was a city firefighter, wants this week to be Firefighter’s Appreciation Week.

He says he’s doing this in part because this week includes the anniversary of 9-11 and because morale in the department dropped after the mayor decided to appeal the firefighters’ latest contract award.

Kenney urges residents to stop by their local fire station.

“Bring a plate of cookies, bring a smile. School kids can bring some thank you cards that they make in their classroom and stop by and show them how you really feel about them, despite how they’re being treated by this administration,” he said.

The Nutter Administration says the cost of the contract award would be $200 million over five years and that, officials contend, is a price tag the city cannot afford.