A Southern California mayor said he wants to eliminate his city’s homeless population by “giving them all the fentanyl they want,” a controversial comment he doubled down on by saying he supports a federal “purge” of homeless people.
Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, a Republican, made the comments during a city council meeting on Feb. 25 when a resident questioned him about the city’s plan to address the homeless crisis by “enclosing” the homeless population in a single encampment in an abandoned golf course near a residential neighborhood.
“What I want to do is give them free fentanyl. That’s what I want to do,” Parris responded.
“I want to give them all the fentanyl they want,” he reiterated.
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Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, a Republican, made the comments during a city council meeting on Feb. 25. (City of Lancaster)
The resident replied that the mayor’s approach “was not kind.”
The mayor is now facing a recall effort following his comments at the city council meeting, although it has only collected 6% of its goal of 20,000 signatures. He has faced past scrutiny over his controversial moves, including his decision to extend mayoral terms from two years to four.
“For too long, Mayor R. Rex Parris has prioritized personal gain over the well-being of residents. His administration has been marked by mismanagement, controversial policies, and a disregard for transparency,” a recall petition reads.
“Lancaster deserves leadership that listens, serves, and uplifts the community – not one that divides and exploits it,” it adds.
But Parris has reaffirmed his position about wanting to give homeless people the illicit drug that kills thousands of Californians per year. He told Fox 11 on Friday that he has no regrets about his remarks and that he was referring to homeless criminals who “refuse” to seek help.
Mayor R. Rex Parris said he wants to give homeless people “all the…
