Overview

• Mayor Rex Parris of Lancaster, California, suggested distributing 'free fentanyl' to homeless individuals and called for a federal 'purge' during a February city council meeting.
• Parris later clarified that his comments were metaphorical, expressing frustration with crime among the unhoused population, but he has not apologized for the remarks.
• Political opponents Johnathan Earvin and Mark Maldonado have launched a formal recall campaign, citing mismanagement and inflammatory rhetoric as key reasons.
• Lancaster's homelessness crisis has intensified, with the unhoused population rising from 4,683 in 2023 to 6,672 in 2024, according to the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.
• Parris, who has been mayor since 2008, has faced criticism for previous law-and-order policies, including alleged aggressive clearances of homeless encampments.