The cities they are targeting probably send a disproportionate amount of tax money to the federal government. I really wish the mayors of these cities, and the governors of these states would start to talk about this imbalance.
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/05/which-s...
This is why when a red state chooses to lower taxes or otherwise increase their reliance on federal help I laugh at the hypocrisy of the bootstraps party and wonder why my federal taxes, in a blue state without federal support, should go to such irresponsible people.