2 New Taxi Firms OKd in Close Vote

Two new taxicab companies soon will be competing for business in a city that already has two car-for-hire businesses.

Despite objections from Yellow Cab of North Orange County, which has been serving Fullerton for more than 50 years, City Council members this week voted 3 to 2 to grant business licenses to California Yellow Taxicab Co. and Coastal City Yellow Cab Co.

Councilmen Don Bankhead and Peter Godfrey cast the dissenting votes, saying that the two newcomers did not meet a city requirement that prospective taxi companies prove that there is a demand for more service.

Mayor Chris Norby and Councilwoman Jan M. Flory, however, said their interpretation is that the ordinance does not require such proof.

Councilwoman Julie Sa, who was initially against California Yellow Taxicab, changed her position after clearing up what she said was confusion over who owns the company.

“I have no problem with business coming to our town,” Sa said. “If we have competition, we are going to get better service.”

The president of Yellow Cab of North Orange County argued that bringing more taxi service to Fullerton would cause his business to suffer and that the competitors’ names are too similar to his company’s.

But Flory pointed out that “yellow cabs are indigenous all over this country. . . . Let’s give them a go.”