LANCASTER – City of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris reacted strongly to the City of Palmdale’s decision to enter into a settlement agreement in the Section 8 discrimination lawsuit involving both cities. Parris issued the following statement Friday:
“I am extremely disappointed with the actions and comments made by the City of Palmdale regarding their recent settlement agreement in the Section 8 enforcement case. Their decision to acquiesce gives comfort to criminals perpetrating housing fraud in the Antelope Valley.
Furthermore, Palmdale has thrown under the bus the Deputy Sheriffs and Section 8 investigators who have successfully fought fraud throughout the Antelope Valley.
The unintended consequence of the City’s actions and statements is that they have become a mouthpiece for the plaintiffs, falsely giving credence to offensive claims that the Sheriff’s Department and citizens of Palmdale and Lancaster are racist. In fact, recent reports show that the City of Lancaster is the most integrated city in Los Angeles County.
Like the City of Palmdale, we recognized that the County Housing Authority had insufficient resources assigned to investigate fraud and other violations of federal regulations, and anyone who expects three investigators to enforce the requirements of 22,000 Section 8 vouchers countywide is sadly mistaken.
Together, our cities took steps to remedy this situation by agreeing to pay the costs of added investigators assigned to our community, which were successful in over 91% of their cases.
However, Palmdale’s agreement to settle this case now simply allows criminals committing housing fraud to act with impunity in the Antelope Valley.
While Mayor Ledford and I have our differences, for the better good of both communities, we need to get beyond this. He has a responsibility as the leader of his city to properly represent all of his city’s law-abiding constituents.
Our commitment to fighting criminal housing fraud remains strong and we ask the City of Palmdale to continue this fight against criminal activity with us.”
justice callout says
Boss Rex is disappointed. Boohoo little big man. I voting you out at the polls so you cant go to the clerks office and steal my ballot.
Cara Lyndford says
Well heck! Did the people of Lancaster California get so desperate for Mayor that they had to elect an ambulance chaser? Holy cow! I left the Valley just in time!
CKAY says
Ambulance chasers know what people want to hear. Mr. Perris is safe as long as the weak and the fearful are the only ones who vote.
Maria G Grajeda says
NO MORE PRE-SCHOOL IN LANCASTER STARTING NEXT YEAR!!!! WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS FOR OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE.
FRANK says
How is HUD’s unvestigation comming along? He broght this on himself.
CKAY says
Actually he brought it onto all of us and his fragile ego will not let him stop. I am begining to think it is all about seeing his picture in newspaper. He has convinced himself he is crusader rabbit.
William says
I loved Mayor Ledford’s statement yesterday. In a gentlemanly way, he stuck it to Parris and now Parris is huffing and puffing in return. It was Parris’s big mouth that brought unwanted attention to the AV and, yet, he continues on. Bless his widdle heart.
ROBIN AMNOTE says
“Pride goes before the fall” Has Parris ever heard of “Bearing False Witness”? Most of the “Problems” in the AV are done by friends and kids of Lancaster deputies who turn around and blame Section 8 persons for this and that. They do it to make them look bad. While there may be a handful of persons related or associated with Voucher holders, the voucher holder isnt going to deliberately cause themselves to become homeless. Has anyone seen the movie “American Violet”? If not, check it out on NETFLIX. …No one who is in need of housing assistance is going to violate their housing to end up homeless especially in the middle of no where with extreme weather conditions. All of this was CREATED for the purpose of targeting the poor because Perris is trying to get the AV to resemble Valencia and the poor are a hinderance. Besides that, there’s a lot of money involved to line certain politicians and city officials’ pockets. Shame on YOU Parris! Im extremely disappointed in YOU. Although, Im sure you didnt conjure all of this up alone. …Schmuck!
Stinger says
The headline on this should read: “The king of puffery bloviates some more”
Pure misdirection, exaggeration, and obfuscation. Typical fare from an ambulance chaser.
CKAY says
Notice the King’s new court photograph of himself. He now has his fist under his chin. Rodin’s original of the THINKER is much better although I believe our Rex would disagree. Lets just change the name of Lancaster to Rexdale and be done with it. Maybe that is all he is looking for.
Stinger says
Actually, I believe Parris is considering changing the name of Lancaster to something a bit more appropriate for his royal heiniousness: Jonestown…
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