Shasta Rising

Last year I had the privilege of sitting down with mother and community advocate, Katie Cavanaugh, to hear the tragic story of how fentanyl took her son’s life – and how that horrible event spurred to advocate for services and treatment for those accidentally exposed to the lethal drug or wrestling with addiction. Katie shares the lessons she learned and how her view of approaches like “harm reduc...

At 5am on a bench outside the Good News Rescue Mission as part of a national event – Conversations on a Bench, Jonathan and I tackled the tough questions I and many in the community ask about homelessness, including: 1) Is the Mission a low barrier shelter? What barriers do exist to staying there? 2) Are homeless people being bussed in from out of town? 3) How should we approach encampments – zero...

During my supervisor report on Tuesday, October 7th, I shared an update on some collaborative work I've been doing with Supervisor Harmon on the emerging wolf crisis in Northeastern CA and Supervisor Kelstrom on behavioral health treatment beds. I also discuss conversations I've been having to identify a single call to action and coordinated response to homeless individuals with our CIRT Team and...

During my supervisor report on Tuesday, September 30th, I shared an observation around several strategic planning processes I've been working on, insights from a conversation with Placer County financial experts on how to take our budgeting process to the next level, a promising conversation with a local health center about partnering on the Sheriff's new corrections and rehabilitation campus, and...

During my supervisor report on Tuesday, September 23rd, I shared an update on several activities from the past few weeks, including my support for 3 local applications for state dollars to expand behavioral treatment beds in our County, our first Developers Roundtable to work collaboratively with builders to bring more housing online, and continued work on our initiative to end veteran homelessnes...

I had the privilege of sitting down with Janessa Gans Wilder months ago, a former CIA officer who spent years in the Middle East during the Iraq War seeing firsthand what happens when people don't deal with conflict in a healthy way. Following her time in Iraq, she started a peace-building organization, Euphrates Institute, that works to equip people with the skills to build peace and solve proble...

Several months ago, I had the great privilege of talking with students of Shasta College’s MESA (Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement) Club. These students are pursuing aeronautical engineering and electrical engineering degrees, participating in statewide conferences for Women in Engineering, and advancing to final rounds of NASA competitions. Excited to share this full conversation, covering...

The Election Office Budget Request to enable the Registrar of Voters to film the ballots as they move through the tabulation process and make other changes came before the Board for a third time this Tuesday and then was pulled – not by me, but by ROV Curtis. Am I slow playing the Registrar of Voters’ budget request for equipment to run the elections the way he wants? No. I’m applying the same sta...

I walk through the key highlights from our August 19 Board Meeting. Get my take on the final presentation from the consultant we hired to explore how to address the medical provider shortage, what should go where the old courthouse is when it’s demolished, and updates on collaboration with the City of Redding to secure land for the Sheriff’s new Corrections & Rehabilitation Campus. I comment o...

In May 2025, United Way of Northern California hosted the “Shasta 211 Central Access Point Kick Off” to discuss with community stakeholders how 211 can become a key access point for addressing homelessness and other community needs. I spoke at the beginning of the event on the importance of data, the need for standard and consistent quality data, sharing how communities around the country are usin...

In June, we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Shasta Dam and I had the privilege to share a few words about one of the most majestic places in Shasta County. I believe there are 3 lessons we can take from the successful completion of the Dam. I hope these will inspire you and all of us to take on the big challenges that lie before us and seize the opportunities ahead.

Last October, I sat down with Paul Abbott, one of the most committed and compassionate individuals focused on ending homelessness in our community. Paul knows many of the several hundred people living on the streets in our county by name through his work with the Good News Rescue Mission and now, Shasta Thrive. In this episode, he shares what he has learned from spending countless hours in encampm...

Last December, as the last Board was hearing presentations on how to spend Shasta County's Opioid Settlement Funds, I sat down with Dr. Mercedes Patee to understand what really happens when people take opioids. Dr. Mercedes Patee describes how opioids change brain chemistry, making it very difficult for those who become addicted to opioids, including fentanyl, to stop using the drugs. Dr. Pate...

I, Shasta County District 4 Supervisor Matt Plummer, introduce Shasta Rising—a podcast that explores what it will take to make Shasta County the safest, happiest, and healthiest county in California. Join me as I address homelessness, public safety, mental health, and more with data, creative ideas, and community collaboration.