A California mayor is facing intense criticism and calls for his removal after suggesting that giving fentanyl to homeless individuals could address his city’s unhoused crisis. During a February 25 city council meeting, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris made controversial remarks advocating for distributing “all the fentanyl they want” to homeless people, following a resident’s objection to plans for housing the homeless at a former golf course site.
When confronted about the insensitive nature of his comments, Parris, who has served as Lancaster’s Republican mayor since 2008, refused to retract his statements. In a subsequent interview with FOX LA, he attempted to clarify that his remarks were specifically targeting what he claimed was a criminal element within the homeless population.
Parris alleged that 40-45% of the local homeless population consists of former prison inmates who are responsible for a significant portion of the city’s serious crimes, including robberies, rapes, and murders. However, he provided no statistical evidence to support these assertions.
The mayor attempted to downplay his fentanyl distribution suggestion, stating it shouldn’t be taken “literally” and noting that the dangerous opioid is already readily available on the streets. He then proceeded to make additional controversial statements, calling for President Trump to authorize a “purge” of homeless individuals from Lancaster.
“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,” Parris stated during the FOX LA interview, describing the situation as “untenable” and expressing his desire to remove homeless individuals from the city.
The mayor’s inflammatory comments have sparked a recall effort, though the initiative has thus far gained limited traction. As of Sunday, the online petition had secured only 6% of the 20,000 signatures required to advance the recall process.
Johnathon Ervin, a Democratic challenger who previously ran
unsuccessfully against Parris, condemned the mayor’s statements to the Los Angeles Times, declaring him “unfit to hold public office.” Ervin specifically criticized Parris’s suggestions about fentanyl
distribution and his call for a presidential authorization to “purge” the homeless population.
This isn’t the first time Parris has generated controversy during his tenure as mayor. In 2018, he drew attention for attempting to prohibit neckties in workplaces within his jurisdiction. His current term as Lancaster’s mayor extends through April 2028.
The mayor has defended his approach to homelessness, characterizing Lancaster’s response as the most “innovative” in the nation, while simultaneously maintaining his hardline stance on removing certain segments of the homeless population from his city. Despite growing backlash, Parris has shown no indication of moderating his position or retracting his controversial statements regarding the distribution of fentanyl or his calls for a “purge.”
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by California municipalities in addressing homelessness, while also demonstrating how proposed solutions from elected officials can sometimes spark significant controversy and public outcry.