> those cities have strict zoning laws (and NIMBY)
Strict zoning laws is not an issue, shit zoning laws is, especially exclusive ones (though I have no idea what zoning laws the bay uses). Zoning laws are just a way to define what can be mixed in areas, the US have notoriously garbage ones (often exclusive, overly complex and hyperlocal) but it doesn't have to be that way: http://urbankchoze.blogspot.be/2014/04/japanese-zoning.html
Strict zoning laws is not an issue, shit zoning laws is, especially exclusive ones (though I have no idea what zoning laws the bay uses). Zoning laws are just a way to define what can be mixed in areas, the US have notoriously garbage ones (often exclusive, overly complex and hyperlocal) but it doesn't have to be that way: http://urbankchoze.blogspot.be/2014/04/japanese-zoning.html