Pete Davidson Questions Mayor’s Ties to Staten Island and Criticizes Highway Delays

Pete Davidson, known for his connection to Staten Island, recently questioned Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s association with the borough during a conversation with Variety. Davidson expressed doubt, saying, “Zohran Mamdani…is he Staten Island? I don’t know. I don’t think he’s from Staten Island.”

The “Saturday Night Live” star also criticized Mamdani over delays in highway construction, specifically the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). He appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” where he urged the mayor to address the ongoing construction issues.

Davidson stated, “Yes, could he fix the ‘f—ing BQE, please?” referencing the notable highway that faces congestion and aging infrastructure problems. The BQE connects Brooklyn and Queens and has had longstanding criticisms.

Davidson received enthusiastic applause from the audience for his request. He commented on observing people standing idly at the construction site and urged for the work to be completed.

During the show, Kimmel presented Davidson’s concerns to Mamdani. The mayor responded by detailing his office’s BQE Central Project. This is a $4 billion initiative aimed at rehabilitating the BQE section owned by the city, with plans to begin construction in 2030.

Mamdani assured that the plan focuses on safety and traffic management, intending to alleviate current risks without rerouting traffic through neighborhoods. He concluded with the timeline, suggesting improvements will span over the next decade.

Kimmel joked about the lengthy construction timeline, suggesting Davidson’s daughter might also experience the ongoing issue.