If you commit a crime in Houston, you go thru the Houston court system. Liberal judges tend to offer low bails. Houston is hugely Liberal. Rural Tx. is hugely conservative and so is their court system. Houston's criminal courts are overwhelmed, and were before Covid but the Liberal county judge system there that was responsible for shutting down courts, restaurants bars and gyms added to the back log and now it is huge.
Fact is both Houston an Austin are very Liberal in all aspects, but for my nickle, I would not trade 10 Houstons for 1 Austin.
end of story.