New Business Drives More Taxi Licenses

An influx of corporate jobs into Deerfield brought to ask for an increased number of licenses.

Both 303 Taxi and American Taxi want more licenses. American wants to go from 33 to 40 and 303 is seeking 45, an uptick of six from its current 39. Both companies said one reason is the arrival in Deerfield later this year of Mondelez International, Inc., the snack food arm of Kraft Foods.

“We’re picking them up there (Kraft’s current Northfield headquarters) and we expect them to need us here,” 303’s Jym Antoneule said.

At a pervious Village Board meeting, 303 asked for more licenses. As a result, a public hearing was set Monday. When American Taxi arrived seeking more permits as well, Mayor Harriet Rosenthal suggested a combined approach.

“We did not have time to give notice for a public hearing (for both),” Rosenthal said. She then suggested starting the hearing, letting 303 make its presentation, allowing American to add comments and continuing the meeting until August 6 to allow a vote for both companies.

Neither 303 nor American had any objections to each other’s plans; they both felt there was enough potential business in Deerfield for all the licenses they requested with the arrival of Mondelez.

“It’s up to 303 to do what’s best for them,” American Taxi’s James Buer aid. “We know what works for us. We’ve had an increase from 28,000 to 34,000 rides.”

Trustee Barbara Struthers was concerned about the current passenger waiting time for a cab and she was assured by Antoneule it would be no more than 10 minutes.

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