- Lancaster, California Mayor R. Rex Parris faced backlash for suggesting the distribution of free fentanyl to homeless individuals as a way to address homelessness, arguing it would make them compliant with relocation plans.
- Despite public criticism, Parris defended his remarks months later, clarifying he only meant homeless individuals with criminal histories who refuse assistance, blaming them for the majority of violent crimes in the city.
- The mayor also controversially proposed the idea of a government-sanctioned "purge" of homeless individuals, calling it a harsh but necessary solution to protect residents.
- Fentanyl – a highly potent synthetic opioid linked to over 74,000 U.S. deaths in 2023 – was dismissed by Parris as "easy to obtain," downplaying the dangers of his non-literal suggestion.
- Opponents launched a recall campaign against Parris, citing mismanagement and controversial policies, but it has only gathered six percent of the required signatures so far.
A mayor in Southern California is under fire for proposing the distribution of the opioid fentanyl as a way to solve homelessness in his city.
R. Rex Parris, the mayor of Lancaster in Los Angeles County, remarked during a city council meeting in February that he plans to relocate homeless individuals to a closed golf course near a residential area. Parris then shared his suggestion on how to make homeless individuals comply with his proposal.
"What I want to do is give them free fentanyl. I want to give them all the fentanyl they want," the mayor told. The startled resident answered back, telling Parris that his comment "was not kind."
He doubled down on his stance months later, telling FOX 11 in an interview Friday, April 18, that he has no regrets about his February remarks. Parris also clarified his prior remarks, emphasizing that he was referring to homeless individuals with criminal histories who reject assistance.
"I made it very clear I was talking about the criminal element that were let out of the prisons that have now become 4o to 45 percent of what's referred to as the homeless population. They are responsible for most of our robberies, most of our rapes, and at least half of our murders," the mayor said. "There's nothing that we can do for these people." (Related: Video shows homeless DRUG ADDICTS littering Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood.)
From free fentanyl to a "purge": Parris' radical solutions to the homeless crisis
According to Parris, his comments during the February meeting weren't meant in a literal sense. Fentanyl is already "so easy" to obtain that his proposal would change nothing, he added. But aside from proposing free fentanyl for the homeless, Parris – who has served as Lancaster's mayor since 2008 – also floated the idea of a "purge" for homeless people in the city.
"Quite frankly, I wish that the president would give us a purge. Because we do need to purge these people," Parris said. "Now, is it harsh? Of course, it is harsh."
"But 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. It's an untenable situation, and I'm open to any solution. I want these people out of our city."
Developed for severe pain relief, fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this synthetic opioid has contributed to more than 74,000 deaths in 2023.
This was not the first time Parris landed in hot water over his proposals. In 2013, he made headlines for a plan to build a Buddhist temple, ostensibly to attract Chinese investment. Five years later in 2018, Parris proposed a ban on neckties in the workplace – citing studies linking them to reduced blood flow to the brain.
Meanwhile, Parris' opponents have launched a recall campaign against the GOP mayor. The recall campaign's website alleges that his administration "has been marked by mismanagement, controversial policies, and a disregard for transparency." However, the recall effort has gathered a mere six percent of required signatures.
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Watch this clip of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris telling people to get the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine or get terminated.
This video is from the HyperX2119 channel on Brighteon.com.
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