Score a serious, if whimsical publicity win for the folks behind Save Our Safety Net, the group of activists that’s been pushing the D.C. Council to enact a new millionaires tax as a means of solving the city’s budget woes. Working in conjunction with the Fair Budget Coalition, the group managed to convince at least four council members to dress up like superheroes at a rally outside the John A. Wilson Building on Wednesday.

Yes, that’s Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Michael Brown (I-At Large), Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), and Harry Thomas, Jr. (D-Ward 5) all wearing capes. It’s only too bad they didn’t get those guys in tights and masks, too.

So what prompted this sartorial silliness? The coalition is working to put pressure on the District government to make sure that the city’s “safety net” programs — things like food stamps, affordable housing, health, nutrition and job training programs — don’t end up on the chopping block in next year’s extremely tight budget. Local pols who get behind the idea are being dubbed “Safety Net Heroes.”