Santa Monica

“When cuts are happening in Silicon Valley, traditionally it’s affected everything from wages and taxes to even state revenues,” said Kevin Klowden, executive director at the Milken Institute, an economic think tank in Santa Monica.

As diners along Santa Monica Boulevard brunched on patios and took in a drag queen performance, several dozen pro-Trump marchers chanted, “Walk away from hate.”

The rally was held in Beverly Gardens Park, a lush green space that runs parallel to Santa Monica Boulevard and has been the site of frequent demonstrations in support of Trump.

The author’s latest novel, “Aflame: Learning From Silence,” recounts his mother’s home in Santa Monica burning during a wildfire in 1990.

Although a fragmented landscape isn’t ideal, even small pockets of space can help preserve biodiversity, said Kathleen Semple Delaney, a wildlife ecologist at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.