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Rest In Peace Joel Fox
A friend texted me yesterday with the sad news that Joel lost a lengthy battle with cancer. Most readers will not know who Joel was — when I got involved in politics, he was president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. If there was anything going on in California, Joel was there, defending the interests of taxpayers. Joel had been retired for some time, but we kept in touch, and he remained active on Substack with his own newsletter. I will miss him. And the fact that he would hit reply to most of my Substack posts, to express his point of view!
I reached out to current HJTA President Jon Coupal, who sent along the following, which speaks to Joel and his career. Prayers go out to Joel’s family at this difficult time.
STATEMENT FROM THE HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
Yesterday, we learned the sad news that Joel Fox passed away.
Joel served as president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association from 1986 to 1998 and played a key role in the passage of the landmark Proposition 218, The Right to Vote on Taxes Act. He was a Senior Policy Consultant for the 2003 Schwarzenegger for Governor campaign and was named one of the top 100 “influencers” in California politics by Campaigns and Elections magazine.
An accomplished writer and editor, Joel authored several novels and served as co-publisher and editor-in-chief of the website Fox and Hounds Daily, which offered commentary and news on California business and politics. Fox and Hounds Daily was founded in 2008, ran through 2020, and was twice named one of the top California political websites by The Washington Post.
Joel authored hundreds of opinion pieces that appeared in major newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. His articles have been collected by the California State Library. In 2006, he joined the faculty of the Graduate School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University as an adjunct professor.
Jon Coupal, current HJTA President, stated, “Joel was more than my predecessor. He was a mentor and dear friend who will be sorely missed. Joel set the standard for ethics-based advocacy on behalf of taxpayers. Much of HJTA’s success and positive reputation is the direct result of Joel’s leadership.”
ALSO, SOME WORDS FROM JIM LACY, WHO WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF JOEL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS…
“I’ve known Joel Fox since both he and I crossed paths as aides to Howard Jarvis, going back to 1979. Joel dedicated his life, skillfully and with strong values, to public policy and the betterment of Californians. He dearly loved his wife, Cydney, for 51-plus years through it all. I was honored to have represented his nonprofits after his service to the Jarvis organization and to partner with him on campaigns to lower Californians’ taxes. He is a shining example of what a senior public policy expert should be on our side of the aisle, respected by both sides, but a strong advocate for what he believes in. He will be missed.”
They say that bad things happen in threes. Well, I hope that’s true because below are two other remembrances that I had to write this week, with the passing of my friends Congressman Doug LaMalfa and Michael Reagan, which are the first two IYCMI it below…
One Solid Video…
I have a column on this above, but we seriously need to think about the consequences of our massively quick development of this technology, while not simultaneous putting guardrails in place to ensure this technology does not have the ability to harm people, and that it does not tear down the institutions that make America the best country in the world. I talk about it below. Please watch.
FOMO? No, no.
There were several other posts last week that you will not want to miss. If you want to check them out, you can go to the archive here [ [link removed] ] and scroll down!
On This Date In History
ALEXANDER HAMILTON IS BORN
On this day, Alexander Hamilton was born 1755 in the Caribbean, beginning the improbable rise of one of the most consequential figures in American history. An immigrant with no family wealth or social standing, Hamilton embodied the idea that ability and ambition — not pedigree — could shape a nation.
Hamilton became a key figure in the American Revolution as George Washington’s closest aide, helping organize logistics, strategy, and discipline for the Continental Army. Washington came to rely on Hamilton’s sharp intellect, relentless work ethic, and total commitment to the cause of independence. That trust carried into the postwar period, when the harder challenge began: turning a loose collection of states into a functioning country.
He was a principal architect of the Constitution and the most prolific author of The Federalist Papers, making the case for a strong national government capable of holding the republic together. As America’s first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton built the nation’s financial system almost from scratch — establishing public credit, assuming state debts, creating a national bank, and promoting commerce and manufacturing.
Hamilton understood that liberty without structure would not last. He believed a strong, stable framework of laws and institutions was essential for freedom to endure. His vision helped transform a revolutionary experiment into a durable republic — one whose foundations still shape America today. He passed in 1805, leaving a tremendous legacy behind.
Thank you for being a part of the So, Does It Matter? Family!
Jon

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