California Mayor Suggests Giving Free Fentanyl To ‘purge’ Homeless Population

Mayor R. Rex Parris, R, of Lancaster, California drew nationalist disapproval aft suggesting astatine a February City Council gathering that nan solution to homelessness was to “give them each nan fentanyl they want.” He later reinforced nan connection successful a televised interview, saying he wished nan national authorities would let a “purge” to region bum individuals from nan city.

Parris later said his comments were not meant to beryllium taken literally, and insisted he was referring only to a “criminal element” wrong nan unhoused population.

In an interview pinch Fox 11 Los Angeles, he said nan metropolis offers precocious bum services, but claimed immoderate individuals cull thief and lend to rising crime.

“There is thing that we tin do for these people,” Parris told Fox 11. “You know, Lancaster has nan astir innovative bum solutions of immoderate metropolis successful America. We’re very proud of it. We return attraction of a batch of people, but I’m talking astir nan group that garbage those services, nan group that want to campy adjacent your location truthful that they tin burglarize them astatine night.”

He said protecting residents is his apical work and cited individual experiences, including break-ins astatine his ain home, arsenic portion of his concerns.

How person residents and opponents responded?

Parris’ purge remarks drew backlash from critics, including erstwhile opponents. Johnathon Ervin, who ran against him successful 2024, called nan comments disqualifying and joined chap campaigner Mark Maldonado successful a callback effort. As of April 20, nan run had collected only a mini information of nan required signatures to beforehand that effort.

Critics impeach nan politician of utilizing inflammatory connection that stigmatizes unhoused residents and undermines nan city’s responsibility to reside homelessness done lawful and humane means.

What is nan discourse of Lancaster’s homelessness crisis?

Lancaster is located successful bluish Los Angeles County and is location to astir 175,000 residents. The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count reported much than 6,600 unhoused individuals successful nan Antelope Valley region successful 2024, up astir 2,000 from nan erstwhile year. That full includes nan cities of Lancaster and Palmdale and surrounding communities.

Extreme upwind conditions, constricted lodging options, and longstanding tensions complete encampments person challenged section leaders. In past years, nan ACLU of Southern California accused Lancaster of criminalizing homelessness done fierce enforcement practices, including nan demolition of camps.

Has Mayor Parris made arguable statements before?

Parris, a Republican and erstwhile proceedings attorney, has served arsenic Lancaster’s politician since 2008. He is known for making unconventional proposals. In 2013, he advocated opening a waste and acquisition agency successful Beijing and building a Buddhist temple to pull investment. In 2018, he called for banning neckties among metropolis employees, citing wellness concerns.

Despite repeated controversies, Parris won reelection successful 2024, securing a sixth term. His existent tenure extends done April 2028.

What ineligible aliases governmental actions are underway?

The metropolis clerk’s agency sued nan group starring nan callback effort, claiming nan petition included mendacious aliases misleading information. Parris hasn’t responded to nan suit aliases nan backlash beyond his televised remarks.