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 reduction” changed.

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 tolerance, leniency, periodic enforcement, or something else?

4) Does Shasta County’s services for the homeless attract people from out of town? Should we cut services to avoid attracting out-of-towners?

Jonathan answers these questions with candor and compassion, building off the experience of serving 18,000 people over the years.

Once you’ve listened, let me know what you think!

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 SHASCOM (911 receivers). I also give an update on work with our public safety agencies to publish good crime data and with our housing team to collaborate with local developers to bring more housing online.

Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback.

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 some updates from my quarterly Lakehead Community meeting.

Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback.

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 homelessness. I wrap up my report with shocking stats on the young people in our Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility.

Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback.

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 problems together. Today, she is working with groups in Israel and the Gaza Strip to help restore communication and relationships.

We talk about the current climate of divisiveness and polarization in Shasta County and how we can create a culture of respect and collaboration here:

00:00 - Janessa's experience in conflict resolution

05:13 - How to start rebuilding trust and respect

08:15 - Tackling divisive issues

11:34 - Principles for communication (as used in the Israel/Palestine situation)

14:45 - Principle 1: Give & receive welcome

15:42 - Principle 2: Be present as much as possible

17:00 - Principle 3: Speak your own truth

21:05 - Principle 4: Ask honest, open questions (plus the value of intellectual curiosity)

24:00 - Principle 5: When the going gets rough, turn to wonder (plus pursuing win-wins)

31:32 - Principle 6: Observe confidentiality

32:57 - What can we all do as one person to create this culture

36:00 - Is there hope for a culture of respect and collaboration?

39:40 - Making this a priority

I’m excited to reshare this now in light of the events of the past few weeks. What do you think we can do to create a culture of respect & collaboration in Shasta County?

Learn more at mattplummer.com

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 favorite AI-powered chat bots, timeline for reaching Mars, least/most favorite college math class, Blue Origin’s 10 min space trip, and much more! While STEM careers and advanced degrees aren’t for every Shasta County student, there are many who I believe will take inspiration from these young people and their courageous pursuit of the sciences.

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 standard I have of anyone asking for money from the County – demonstrate to me with high confidence that you have a robust plan that will be successful. You may remember my constructive criticism of this proposal for mental health innovation dollars - https://mattplummer.com/my-public-comment-on-the-mental-health-innovation-grant-proposal/ or my back-and-forth with the CORE team working on youth substance use prevention or my deep engagement and scrutiny of the healthcare consulting work.

The pace with which ROV Curtis hits that standard is up to him. If you want this done, you can put pressure on him to get it done

Here’s the whole backstory

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 on ROV Curtis’ return with an amended budget ask for implementing his approach to elections as well.

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 using data to make significant progress on reducing homelessness.

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 encampments around town and helping individuals get out of homelessness for good.

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. Patee also explains why medical detox is often necessary to help people stop using, and medically assisted treatment dramatically increases the success rate.This is part of my ongoing investigation into the opioid crisis in Shasta County, intended to inform how the County distributes $39M in Opioid Settlement Funds.

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.