I M N X FM Alicia Lacy & Dee Dee

Let’s talk, Alicia. What’s new? Dee, what’s up? Alicia, what’s new? I’ve been working on the blue vault, telling African American stories that many of us share and helping with mental health. What’s happening in Baltimore? Let’s go to the DMV and talk about the latest news.

The Baltimore NAACP is facing financial management and leadership issues. Survivors of abuse by Catholic priests are speaking out amid the archdiocese’s bankruptcy case. The Maryland Cycling Classic is returning to Baltimore, and the Baltimore Police released images in a mass vandalism case.

Body cam footage related to a man who died in police custody has been delayed. What caught my attention was the beef with the archdiocese.

I used to work for a famous doctor who helped take the archdiocese down in Baltimore. He’s been in cases like Jeffrey Dahmer. It’s surprising because I thought they had remedied many cases, so more people are coming forward.

More survivors are speaking out, especially with the archdiocese’s bankruptcy case bringing more attention to the issue. Working with that doctor must have been intense, especially with high-profile cases. It’s a complex issue.

Yes, it was a stressful environment because of the clients he had to testify against. He’s a phenomenal doctor. 

I wish I could say his name, but I can’t. He’s also been helpful in healing some victims. Let’s move on to a brighter note to lighten the mood. I also wanted to know DeeDee.

I know there’s been a lot of chatter about property taxes in Prince George’s County. The county’s reassessing property values, which affects tax rates. Some residents are concerned about their tax bills going up.

As technology, you’re my trusted co-pilot. However, that area is predominantly black, and many people there work for the federal government. They’re homeowners and have sustained a percentage of generational wealth that many of us carry in our families. It’s concerning that property taxes will go up in that area. I’d be ticked off.

Moving off topic, I have family members in Atlanta who’ve reported that rents have almost doubled. What information do you have on the rents in Atlanta?

Rent prices in Atlanta have been rising due to the city’s popularity and the surge in demand for housing. Some areas have seen significant increases, making it tough for some residents. It’s definitely a trend that’s causing concern.

What else can we explore? 

We can explore Georgia’s state laws regarding rent increases and duration. In one year, after a year of aase, how high can the rent go? What increase can Atlanta or Georgia residents who rent? Georgia doesn’t have a rent cap, so it can increase significantly from year to year. Local laws may vary, but Georgia law generally favors landlords. It’s a challenging situation, especially with rising costs. Many people in our community are concerned about this, and I’d like to delve deeper. Can you provide national statistics or a percentage of rent increases in the last year for the United States or its renters? The national average rent increase was around 11 to 12%, with some areas seeing even steeper increases while others had more modest changes. It’s been a significant trend and a challenge for many renters. Can you also provide the top five states with the highest rent increases and no laws to govern those increases? These states typically include Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and Texas. They don’t have strict rent control laws, so landlords have more flexibility in raising rents. It’s been a big issue for many renters. Let’s continue the conversation. Many people of color or those in urban communities have been talking about 2025 being the new Yasper area. People are moving all over the United States to avoid these rent increases. Do you have the best states to move to based on today’s news and statistics?