The high cost of living is almost entirely driven by land use restrictions and zoning. I don’t know if that’s “liberal politics” but if San Francisco adopted the housing and zoning of Houston it would be
way cheaper.
If anything you could argue that's an anti-liberal attitude. It's great the Bay Area is so tolerant of different folks. Except that doesn't help out the black transgender teenager from Mississippi who can't move there, because he's priced out of even the lowest-end apartment. All because some millionaire home owners don't want to see their property values appreciate at a slightly lower rate.