What ruined CA and NY wasn't "left-leaning" politics so much as self-serving hypocritical pseudo-liberalism. Mostly, it's the NIMBY impulse. You have wealthy semi- or unemployed people (stereotypically housewives, but some are men) who have nothing to do but sit on various local boards and city councils and prevent anything that will hurt their house prices, even if it's good for the city. It's either that or sit on co-op boards, which are so full of mean-spirited intrigue that even Cthulhu can't stand those people. That's the kind of stuff that ruined NY and CA.

One thing I have noticed in this world is that hypocritical pseudoleftists do a lot more damage, than real leftists or real conservatives, because they think morality is on their side when they wreak havoc.

Also, Russian oligarchs and third-world despots fucked up the real estate markets in NY and CA. They don't live here, but they buy, and that affects everything and makes it a lot more competitive.

This is not a dig against Austin; but the good news is that the foreign speculator scumbags are not going to take an interest in Austin any time soon.

I don't live in Austin, although it sounds like a really cool place. My personal belief is that it needs some kind of centralized planning to keep inefficient growth that becomes tomorrow's legacy problem. I don't like the NIMBY regulations and self-serving injected complexity that often come about; but some kind of planning that encourages environmentally sound and healthy development is always a good thing.