Pete Davidson Criticizes NYC Mayor Over BQE Conditions on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Comedian Pete Davidson voiced his strong dissatisfaction with the state of New York City's Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Monday. Davidson, a native of Staten Island, directly addressed the city's mayor, Eric Adams, questioning the ongoing construction and perceived lack of progress on the vital highway.

Responding to a question from host Jimmy Kimmel about whether he had any questions for the mayor, who was slated to appear as a guest, Davidson immediately stated, "Yes, could he fix the f***ing BQE, please?" The remark was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Davidson, a former cast member of "Saturday Night Live," claimed that the highway has been under construction since before he was born. He described seeing workers seemingly idle, with cones surrounding areas where little apparent work was being done. He speculated about the reasons behind the prolonged construction, suggesting it might be related to organized crime or financial impropriety.

Kimmel assured Davidson that he would bring up the issue with Mayor Adams. When the mayor appeared later in the show, Kimmel relayed Davidson's concerns. "Pete Davidson wants to know. What's going on at the BQE? He says he drives by it and he sees nobody doing anything. He said it's been like that since before he was born," Kimmel said.

Mayor Adams confirmed that a plan to repair the BQE is in motion. "So, we actually recently announced that we are actually going to be repairing the part of the BQE," Adams stated. He detailed a multi-billion dollar plan to address a 1.5-mile section of the highway, with repairs scheduled to begin in 2030 and span a decade. The plan aims for full safety improvements without diverting traffic into local neighborhoods and keeping the highway operational during construction.

A video released by the mayor's office in August announced these forthcoming repairs, which will tackle the road's aging concrete and its triple cantilever section. Experts have indicated that this section of the highway, which traverses Brooklyn and Queens, is approximately 20 years past its designed lifespan. The mayor emphasized the urgency, stating, "We cannot wait any longer. We're done kicking the can down the road."

Adams also noted that a temporary road will be built to manage traffic during construction, preventing disruptions to local streets. He stated the project will be funded through existing city resources, citing the "cost of inaction" as too high. The BQE handles over 130,000 vehicles daily.