ann arbor is overrated.

We’re still waiting to hear a reason why “seasonal” employees, like those who work at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, should be exempted from the city’s living wage law, other than that these workers should be discriminated against because of their age and family status — or as Summer Fest board member Peter Schork puts it, “We’re talking about 16- to 25-year-olds, seasonal employees, not heads of household.” (Leaving aside for the moment the question of whether city living wage laws are a good idea at all — we think they generally are, but there are far better arguments for getting rid of the laws altogether than there are for making them apply selectively.)

The controversy is pure, vintage Ann Arbor. A2 wants to be at the forefront of progressive labor legislation. But it also wants to play host to the enriching multi-culti delights of Cape Verdean blues, Latin jazz, rootsy Americana and Australian pole-dancing acrobatics. And now these two objectives are colliding just because of some “temporary” residents working “seasonal” jobs who probably don’t even listen to Prairie Home Companion.

As Chris Easthope said at last week’s City Council meeting, “It’s unfa-a-i-i-r!” (Inflection ours.)