Pete Davidson Criticizes Mayor Over Staten Island and Highway Issues

Pete Davidson raised questions about Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s connection to Staten Island during a recent interview with Variety. Davidson, who strongly identifies with Staten Island, expressed doubt about Mamdani’s ties to the borough.

In the interview, Davidson pondered, “Zohran Mamdani… is he Staten Island? I don’t know.” He continued, “I don’t think he’s from Staten Island.” Despite acknowledging that he doesn’t have an issue with Mamdani personally, Davidson suggested the mayor lacked the borough’s essence. “Staten Island’s the only red place in New York, and it’s violently red,” he said.

Davidson shared that his family leans politically to the right and described the atmosphere on Staten Island as reminiscent of past decades. “It’s not like a racist, misogynistic sort of thing, it’s just like… it’s 1985 over there,” he stated. According to Davidson, a true Staten Island politician claims a secret family and knows one mobster.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Davidson called for improvements in the area, specifically targeting the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). “Could he fix the ‘f—ing BQE, please?” he remarked, sparking applause from the audience. The BQE is known for traffic congestion and outdated infrastructure.

“The BQE has been under construction since before I was born,” Davidson noted. “Someone’s just standing there eating a sandwich or on the phone, and there are all these cones around.”

Davidson’s concerns about the BQE echoed a common sentiment among locals. Mayor Mamdani joined the show later, addressing Davidson’s question. He discussed the BQE Central Project, a $4 billion initiative to renovate the city-owned part of the highway, with construction set to start in 2030.

“We’re going to be putting a multibillion-dollar plan to actually repair the part the city owns,” Mamdani said, ensuring that it would not divert traffic into neighborhoods. Kimmel humorously added, “So you’re saying Pete’s daughter will also be complaining about this,” prompting laughter from Mamdani and the audience.

Davidson, known for his work on Saturday Night Live, continues to be an outspoken advocate for his hometown. His comments reflect a broader dialogue about infrastructure and community identity.