http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/07/16/BAG0DR1BA66.DTL
This has been rather controversial. Of course the reasons given seemed similar to those given for shooting "problem bears" in the Sierras and other areas - especially public lands. People had actually been intentionally feeding these coyotes, and apparently they lost their general fear of people. They had learned to associate humans with food and may have gotten aggressive.
I live in the Berkeley Hills, where we have our fair share of wildlife. I certainly have no problem harassing the deer that enter our yard, as they do damage our plants. I certainly hope they have a healthy fear of people. While I wouldn't normally harass a deer in Yosemite, I did loudly suggest to several getting a bit close to my tent that they would be better off foraging elsewhere.