A firestorm of controversy has erupted in Lancaster, California, after Republican Mayor Rex Parris suggested giving homeless people “free fentanyl” during a contentious city council meeting.
The mayor, who has held office since 2008, made the shocking remarks on Feb. 25 when a resident voiced concerns about the city’s plan to address homelessness by relocating the unhoused to an abandoned golf course near a residential area.
“What I want to do is give them free fentanyl,” Parris interrupted as the resident was speaking.
“I mean, that’s what I want to do. I want to give them all the fentanyl they want.”
The stunned resident responded that the mayor’s statement “was not kind,” but Parris has doubled down on his position.
The mayor claimed he has no “regrets” about his comments in a subsequent interview with FOX LA, clarifying that he was specifically referring to homeless individuals with criminal backgrounds who “refuse” assistance.
“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,” Parris told the outlet.
“They are responsible for most of our robberies, most of our rapes, and at least half of our murders. There’s nothing that we can do for these people.”
The mayor did not provide evidence or data to support these claims about crime statistics.
Parris further escalated his rhetoric by calling for federal intervention, stating, “Quite frankly, I wish that the president would give us a purge. Because we do need to purge these people.”
While acknowledging the harshness of his stance, Parris defended his position as necessary to protect Lancaster residents.
“It’s my obligation as the mayor of the city of Lancaster to protect the hardworking families that live there, and I am no longer able to do it,” he said.
“It’s an untenable situation and I’m open to any solution… I want these people out of our city.”
The controversial statements have fueled a recall campaign targeting the mayor.
Johnathon Ervin, a Democratic challenger who lost to Parris in the most recent mayoral election, condemned the remarks.
“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,” Ervin stated, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The online recall petition has gained limited traction despite the backlash, securing only 6 percent of the targeted 20,000 signatures as of Sunday night.
This isn’t the first time Parris has made headlines for unconventional positions.
Reports indicate that in 2018, he attracted attention for attempting to ban neckties in workplaces throughout Lancaster.
The mayor defended his fentanyl remarks by suggesting no one would take his comments “literally,” noting that the deadly opioid is already “so easy” to obtain on the streets that city distribution wouldn’t make a difference.
Before calling for a “purge,” Parris touted Lancaster’s track record, claiming the city has implemented more “innovative” solutions to homelessness than any other American municipality.
Parris’s current term as mayor extends until April 2028.
WATCH:
