The difference is turnout. It's way easier to turn out for one single election (electing someone who will pre-empt this NIMBY nonsense) than it is to turn out to dozens of local meetings most people don't even hear about where these projects are discussed. Historically, the only people who show up to those meetings are the NIMBYs. There was a meeting in my city about housing and transit. On Thursday. At 2pm. How many people are gonna show up for that?