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Norwalk approves plan to manage coyotes

WAVE NEWSPAPERS — Although it’s legal to kill a coyote under certain circumstances, the city will take a more humane approach with a “coexistence and management” plan, approved on a 5-0 vote by the City Council Oct. 1. Public Safety Director Grissel Chavez said a coyote may be killed if it is attacking a person or pet and under state law anyone can hire a licensed hunter to kill the animals.

Published

6 years ago

October 8, 2019

Oakland Post

Urban Coyote (Photo by: wavenewspapers.com)

By Arnold Adler

NORWALK — Although it’s legal to kill a coyote under certain circumstances, the city will take a more humane approach with a “coexistence and management” plan, approved on a 5-0 vote by the City Council Oct. 1.

Public Safety Director Grissel Chavez said a coyote may be killed if it is attacking a person or pet and under state law anyone can hire a licensed hunter to kill the animals.

But a report by Chavez and Management Analyst Amanda Moreno stated that Humane Society studies indicate killing or relocating animals doesn’t work as the dead animal is soon replaced and an animal taken from the area to another location often finds its way back.

Instead, the city Management and Coexistence Plan aims at educating the public and urging residents to call and report coyote sightings to the Public Safety Department at (562) 929-5732.

City staff will form a wildlife watch, using data from residents to chart actions of coyotes.

Maps will be made for citywide distribution showing where large numbers of coyotes may be found, Moreno said.

“The management plan is to discourage the habituation of coyotes in an urban environment by using education, behavior modification and development of a tiered response to aggressive coyote behavior,” the report states.

This plan is guided by the following basic principles, Moreno said in an oral report.

• Human safety is a priority in managing human-coyote interactions.

• Understanding that coyotes serve an important role in the ecosystem by helping to control the population of rodents, rabbits and other urban mammals.

• Preventive practices such as reduction and removal of food attractants, habitat modification and responding appropriately when interacting with wildlife are key to minimizing potential interactions with coyotes.

• Solutions for coyote conflicts must address both problematic coyote behaviors (such as aggression towards people and attacks on pets) and the problematic human behaviors (intentionally or unintentionally feeding coyotes and letting pets outside unattended) that contribute to conflicts.

“A community-wide program that involves residents is necessary for achieving coexistence among people, coyotes and pets,” Chavez and Moreno said in the report.

“Recommended actions in this plan are designed to increase knowledge and understanding of how coyotes behave and to make clear how such behavior can be managed or reduced to eliminate human conflicts with coyotes. The ultimate goal of coyote behavior modification is to encourage the natural relocation of coyotes to their native environment.”

“This plan is a step in the right direction. We have received many complaints from residents.”

“This plan will show that we are addressing the problem,” Mayor Margarita Rios said.

Moreno told the Council that city staff has worked with other communities and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on how to respond to the recent influx of coyotes in urban areas.

Historically, coyotes have existed for years in Norwalk and Los Angeles County, finding safe haven in areas within the city where dense brush is prominent, the report said. These areas provide suitable locations where coyotes can safely build dens and reproduce

Wildlife experts say the prolonged drought has limited potential food sources for the coyotes and has drawn the coyotes to residential neighborhoods in search of food and water.

Coyotes primarily eat small mammals, such as rabbits, ground squirrels and mice. They tend to prefer fresh meat but will eat significant amounts of fruits and vegetables during the autumn and winter months when their prey is scarce.

The report said coyotes will adapt their diet to what is available. A lack of prey and closer proximity to residents has led the coyotes to seek alternative food sources, including small pets, pet food and fallen fruits and vegetables in the backyards of homes.

In answer to a question by Councilman Leonard Shryock, Moreno said coyotes will enter a yard looking for food if they are hungry enough.

Generally, coyotes are reclusive animals who avoid human contact. As coyotes have become urbanized, however, they have realized there are few real threats in suburban environments. This has resulted in coyotes approaching people and even feeling safe visiting yards when people are present, the report stated.

In response to coyote activity in neighborhoods, the city relies on its residents to report encounters but more importantly, to follow the recommended action plan when they encounter coyotes.

In Norwalk, the Downey-based Southeast Area Animal Control Authority will handle coyote issues such as disposal of sick, injured or dead animals. SEAACA can be reached at (562) 803-3301,

If a coyote is posing an immediate threat, residents are advised to call 911.

This article originally appeared in the Wave Newspapers.

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

5 days ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

6 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

1 week ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: