We do have an obscene problem with a shortage of housing here in California
I imagine being basically a sanctuary state and full of sanctuary cities doesn't help with that problem. (And yes, I see you say it doesn't have much of an impact)
That said, having moved here from NY, I'd say NY is still more locked down socialist than CA, although CA's been catching up since I moved here. At least I still don't get pulled over for no good reason every couple of months here like I did in NY. The damn speed trap racket they run there almost bankrupted me several times.
New York City? Or are you meaning the entire NY State?
RE: Is it truly "progressive" when the negative things are simply pushed into ghettos and ignored while virtue signalling about other things?