A storm of controversy surrounds Lancaster, California Mayor Rex Parris after his suggestion to handle the city's homeless population by offering them "free fentanyl." This proposal was voiced during a city council meeting, shocking attendees and stirring public outcry. Parris, a member of the Republican Party, made the inflammatory remarks as a resident was addressing the council.
Mayor Rex Parris interrupted the speaker, stating, "What I want to do is give them free fentanyl. I mean, that's what I want to do. I want to give them all the fentanyl they want." The person at the podium rebuked the comment as unkind, but Parris did not retract his words. In a follow-up interview with FOX LA, he clarified that his remarks were aimed at homeless individuals with criminal backgrounds who "refuse" assistance.
Parris explained, "I made it very clear I was talking about the criminal element that were let out of the prisons that have now become 40 to 45% of what's referred to as the homeless population." He alleged that this group was responsible for a significant portion of local crime, including robberies, rapes, and murders. However, Parris did not present any data to support these claims regarding crime statistics.
The mayor's rhetoric intensified as he called for federal intervention, saying, "Quite frankly, I wish that the president would give us a purge. Because we do need to purge these people." Despite acknowledging his stance's severity, Parris defended it as a necessary measure to protect the residents of Lancaster. He expressed a sense of duty to safeguard the community but lamented his inability to do so under the current circumstances. Parris claimed to be open to solutions, emphasizing his desire to remove the homeless from the city.
This incident has led to a recall campaign against Mayor Parris. Johnathon Ervin, a Democratic opponent who ran against Parris in the last mayoral election, condemned the remarks. The Los Angeles Times reported Ervin's statement: "Anyone willing to give homeless people all the fentanyl they want, or to suggest that President Trump should allow a purge of the homeless population, has no business in public office."
The recall effort, however, has seen limited success, with the online petition garnering only 6 percent of the necessary 20,000 signatures as of Sunday night. Mayor Parris, known for his unorthodox views, previously made headlines in 2018 for his attempt to ban neckties in Lancaster workplaces.
In his defense, Parris suggested his fentanyl comments were not meant to be taken "literally," pointing out that the opioid is "so easy" to obtain on the streets that city distribution would make little difference. Prior to the "purge" comment, he boasted about Lancaster's innovative approaches to tackling homelessness, more so than any other American city. Parris is set to remain in office until April 2028.
