City Weighing Taxicab Firm’s Application

Officials are debating whether to allow a new taxicab company to offer limousine cab rides in a city that already has two car-for-hire companies.

At a public hearing Tuesday, one of two competitors urged the city not to allow California Yellow Taxicab to do business in Fullerton. Jim Higgins, general manager of Yellow Cab of North Orange County, said there is hardly enough business for his company.

“The two of us already here are starving. We’re dividing a finite pie,” he said. “Now, this new company wants to come in and divide the pie in three. We don’t think there’s any necessity for another cab company here.”

He also protested that the new company’s name is too similar to his company’s and might confuse prospective customers.

Council members said those arguments would not persuade them to vote against 2-month-old California Yellow Taxicab. But they did express concern over information provided by Police Chief Patrick McKinley.

The chief told council members that Albert A. Rossi, an owner of the new company, is on parole for a narcotics violation. And in Rossi’s business application, McKinley said, he states that he would operate two Chevrolets, not limousines.

Rossi’s wife, Heidi Rossi, said at the hearing that she plans to update the information on the application and told the council that her husband has been doing community service and “is taking steps to do the right thing.”

She added that the company prohibits its drivers from drinking alcohol or using drugs.

Council members said they will vote on Rossi’s business permit application next month.