In a contentious move, R. Rex Parris, the Republican Mayor of Lancaster in Southern California, has expressed his desire to eradicate the city's homeless population by supplying them with unlimited quantities of the lethal drug, Fentanyl.
The mayor's remarks, which have sparked considerable controversy, were made during a city council meeting on February 25. His comments came in response to a resident's query about the city's strategy to tackle the homeless crisis by confining the homeless population to a single encampment in an abandoned golf course near a residential area.
Mayor Parris's response was unequivocal, "What I want to do is give them free Fentanyl. Thats what I want to do," he said, adding, "I want to give them all the Fentanyl they want." According to Fox News, the resident retorted that the mayor's approach "was not kind."
The mayor's controversial comments have led to a recall effort, which has so far garnered only 6% of the targeted 20,000 signatures. Parris, who has been in office since 2008, has previously faced criticism for his contentious decisions, including extending mayoral terms from two to four years.
The recall petition criticizes Parris's leadership, stating, "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." It further adds, "Lancaster deserves leadership that listens, serves, and uplifts the community not one that divides and exploits it."
Despite the backlash, Parris remains unapologetic about his comments. He clarified to Fox 11 that his remarks were directed at homeless criminals who "refuse" to seek help. "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 whats referred to as the homeless population," Parris said. He further claimed, "They are responsible for most of our robberies, most of our rapes, and at least half of our murders," he continued. "Theres nothing that we can do for these people." However, Parris did not provide any data to substantiate his claims about the crime rates among the homeless population.
Parris also stated that he did not expect his comments to be taken "literally," arguing that Fentanyl is "so easy" to obtain on the streets that it would not make a difference if the city offered the opioid to homeless people for free.
The mayor also suggested that Lancaster has provided more "innovative" solutions to the homeless crisis than other U.S. cities and proposed a federal "purge" to reduce the homeless population. "Quite frankly, I wish that the President would give us a purge. Because we do need to purge these people," Parris said.
He defended his stance, saying, "Now, is it harsh? Of course, it is harsh," he continued. "But its 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 Its an untenable situation, and Im open to any solution I want these people out of our city."
Parris, who was re-elected last year, has a history of controversial proposals. In 2018, he suggested banning workplace dress codes that require wearing neckties, arguing that they restrict blood flow to the brain. His recent comments on the homeless crisis, however, have sparked a new wave of controversy, raising questions about his approach to leadership and his commitment to addressing the city's challenges.
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