Delicious irony: 'Mayor of all the brisket' once voted to destroy Austin's BBQ scene

Austin nearly trimmed off the very soul of its foodie identity two years ago.

The City Council veered searingly close to banning restaurants that produce smoke in residential areas. Of course, that means barbecue and all its smoky, hazy goodness.

Councilman member human Pio Renteria, at the request of NIMBY complainers, attempted to ban charcoal or wood burning grills from 100 feet of property zoned residential. In other words, bye-bye Franklin's and most of Austin's 'cue establishments (or raise gobs of money to pay for smoke-scrubbing technology). This strict requirement was never enacted -- despite an affirmative vote from Mayor Steve Adler and other free market meddlers.

Our friend Adam Cahn pointed out an irony: When Franklin's was recently ranked lower than (*gasp!) the Salt Lick in a magazine's ranking, Mayor Adler rushed in to equivocate, crowning himself "mayor of all the brisket ..." and crowing about barbecue being "widely available in such huge quantities in this magical city."

Adam has more on the smoke-and-mirrors here: http://acahnman.blogspot.com/2017/03/adler-tries-to-promote-thing-he-tried.html