Barbecue blues

Hot dog files

SCENES FROM FORD FEST

Ford Fest has always drawn protesters — but Friday’s community barbecue in Scarborough was a totally different vibe.

There was a heavy OPP and Toronto Police presence (on horseback, ATVs and wielding big guns), OPSEU members in purple turning their backs during Premier DOUG FORD’s speech, and enough boos to drown out the cheers. Things got pretty intense among the PC supporters in the crowd, too.

That’s not nothing. Ford can get jeered at a Raptors parade, even at a FIFA event — but Ford Fest is his turf. The Ford family’s annual free-hot-dog event is a flex in retail politics, and it’s the one room he should be able to control.

This year’s doubled as a momentum driver ahead of a summer byelection in Scarborough Southwest. But as Ford’s popularity spirals in the polls (although, not according to his own pollster), organized labour brings the heat, and Oppo critics keeping the private jet fiasco alive, the optics of getting booed are especially rough — especially f…