‘I want these people out of our city’

A Southern California mayor sparked backlash after sharing his shocking idea on purging the homeless population.

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris declared he wanted to give his city’s homeless population “all the fentanyl they want” when pressed on the issue during a city council meeting earlier this year.

Footage of the Republican mayor’s comments from February made the rounds on social media, where criticism added to the shocked reactions at the meeting. The mayor defended his comments and clarified his target in remarks to a news outlet.

Parris, who has been mayor of the town in northern Los Angeles County for the last 16 years, was responding to a resident’s question about the homeless population and the “encampment” erected around them.

“What I want to do is give them free fentanyl,” Parris had responded. “I mean, that’s what I want to do. I want to give them all the fentanyl they want.”

The mayor was met with immediate condemnation and a recall effort.

“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,” declared a recall petition.”Lancaster deserves leadership that listens, serves, and uplifts the community – not one that divides and exploits it.”

Parris further drew the ire of critics when he offered no regrets during an interview with Fox 11 in which he said he desired “a purge” of homeless people.

“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 said. “They are responsible for most of our robberies, most of our rapes, and at least half of our murders.”

“Quite frankly, I wish the president would give us a purge. Because we do need to purge these people,” the mayor added.

“Now, is it harsh? Of course, it is harsh. But it is my obligation as the mayor of the city of Lancaster to protect the hardworking families that live here, and I am no longer able to do it. … It’s an untenable situation. … I want these people out of our city,” he said.

Parris did not provide data for his claims and added that he did not think his comments would have been taken “literally.”

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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