Axios D.C.

D.C.’s rent-controlled units are one tool to battle high prices, especially as the housing market pushes some residents to rent for longer than they planned.

Why it matters: Living in D.C. isn't cheap, but anyone can benefit from the savings rent-controlled units provide, because they aren’t subject to income restrictions.

While the cost of rent-controlled units can increase from year to year, those increases are regulated and generally smaller than uncontrolled units.

Yes, but: Tenants in rent-controlled units could see 8.9% rent hikes this year, the largest increase since 1982, Washington City Paper reports. Increases are calculated using the Consumer Price Index plus 2%, with a cap at 10%.

• The increases are capped at 5% for elderly tenants and those with disabilities.

D.C. Policy Center executive director Yesim Sayin Taylor says she thinks of D.C.’s rent control laws as more like rent stabilization that prevents price gouging.

State of play: There was an attempt by the D.C. Council during a meeting this week to slow the 8.9% increase, but it ultimately failed.

How it works: Most buildings with five or more units that were built before 1976 are subject to rent control rules.

The DC Policy Center estimated in 2020 that there were 73,000 rent-controlled units in D.C. That’s compared to 124,600 total rental apartments. Wards 3 and 8 have the bulk of D.C.’s rent-controlled units, Sayin Taylor says.

Between the lines: The number of rent-controlled units drops when landlords sell properties, and turn units from rented to owned. This often happens when landlords feel that they aren’t getting a high enough return on their investment.

Pro tip: Sites like Zillow allow users to search for rental properties by the year they were built – a good place to start if you’re looking for rent-controlled units.

Do you live in a rent-controlled unit? Reply to this email to share your experience.

With the warming weather, we can officially declare it Music Festival Season.

What’s happening: D.C. has a number of music festivals over the next few months and now is the time to snag those tickets.

The National Cannabis Festival on April 22

RFK Festival Grounds

• Headliner 2Chainz is joined by Juicy J and Free Nationals along with some local bands, including alt-tropical band Cumbia Heights and reggae band Nkula.
• Tickets start at $85.

Project Glow on April 29-30

RFK Festival Grounds

• This dance music festival (yes, the one heard all over D.C. last year) will include performances by 9B49, Baby Weight, Benny Benassi, and Coco & Breezy.
• 2-day tickets start at $155.

M3 Rock Festival on May 6-7

Merriweather Post Pavilion

• Rock takes center stage at this two-day festival with headliners Styx and Kix. Other performers include Steven Adler of Guns ‘n Roses, Vixen, and Child’s Play.
• Tickets for the lawn start at $75.

Re:SET DMV on June 16-18

Merriweather Post Pavillion

• This three-day festival includes headliners Boygenius, Steve Lacy, and LCD Soundsystem. Bartees Strange, who previously worked and lived in D.C., will also be performing.
• Tickets start at $250.

Broccoli City on July 15-16

RFK Festival Grounds

• This year’s festival is being headlined by Lil Uzi Vert and Jasmine Sullivan. Ice Spice, Brent Faiyaz and Chlöe will also be there.

Two-day tickets are available starting at $169.

🍽️ A massive food hall coming to Farragut Square in late spring will feature big-name chefs and bartenders, including those behind food and drink at Johnny’s Half Shell, Causa, and Sushi Nakazawa. (Washingtonian)

🚨 MPD and U.S. Park Police have released bodycam footage of the killing of 17-year-old Dalaneo Martin last month in Northeast D.C. Martin was shot and killed by a Park Police officer after officers confronted him inside of the car he was sleeping in, believing it to be stolen.

• Martin woke up and drove off with an officer in the backseat of the car, the footage shows. The officer then shot Martin five times in the back within a second of warning he would shoot. (DCist)

💰 Motorists were potentially overcharged on Maryland toll roads for more than $1 million, according to a state audit. (Washington Post)

🦅 Eagle watch: Two baby eagles hatch to parents Mr. President and Lotus. (Washington Post)

Stacey Abrams is joining the faculty at Howard University, adding to the school's hot streak of high-profile hires.

Driving the news: The former Georgia gubernatorial candidate will be the inaugural Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics.

• In 2021, the historically Black college added Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ta-Nehisi Coates to its faculty, bolstering its position as the nation's center for Black academic thought.

The big picture: Howard has seen a turnaround from reports of financial troubles during the 2010s to recent advancements in research.

• The Defense Department and Air Force awarded the school a $90 million contract to serve as a research center, the school announced in January.

💼 Check out who’s hiring now.

1. Director Asset Management (Lending) at National Housing Trust.
2. Program Associate, National Grassroots Advocacy at National Association of Community Health Centers.
3. Director of Real Estate Development at National Housing Trust.
4. Director, Communications Strategy at Pew Research Center.
5. Reporter at Grid.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a Job.

Hi! Paige here. Marylanders and Virginians are apparently partial to Reese’s on Easter. But according to Instacart, Washingtonians fall in the “other” category for top Easter candy, which is a bit unsatisfying.

• So, because Peeps are my favorite Easter candy, I’m declaring them as D.C.’s favorite too. If you disagree, and I know many of you will, reply to this email with your favorite candy.