By Mike Dunn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The effort by Philadelphia firefighters to have mayor Michael Nutter recalled from office is over as soon as it began.  The union says it won’t pursue what would have been a lengthy court battle.

Firefighters booed and cursed Mayor Nutter two days ago at the opening of a fire station (see related story), then announced plans to gather 45,000 signatures to have him recalled.

The problem is, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in the mid-’70s involving the late mayor Frank Rizzo overturned the ability of Philadelphians to recall their mayor.

So now, the firefighters’ recall effort is off.   Union spokesman Frank Keel says union attorneys have concluded that fighting the legal battle would be too expensive and likely stretch on for years.

“It’s been attempted before in the state and has not succeeded,” he tells KYW Newsradio, “and we just believed that by the time we got through this ardent and lengthy process, this mayor would be out of office anyway, so it’s a moot point.”

The union has been furious at Nutter for continuing to appeal their contract arbitration award (see related story).