TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — Connecticut debuted new highway signs meant to welcome drivers to the state on Wednesday, but one particular phrase has prompted a passionate reaction from its Tri-State neighbor.
A sign reading “Welcome to Connecticut, Home of the Pizza Capital of the United States” will now be visible on I-95 and I-84 entering The Nutmeg State from New York, a claim that Gov. Phil Murphy has not taken lightly.
“You’re not even the pizza capital of the tri-state area,” Murphy wrote in a quote of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s post announcing the signs on Wednesday.
But Lamont didn’t even have a chance to respond before Murphy went, again, on the offensive. In a now-deleted video celebrating National Cheese Pizza Day on Thursday, Murphy slammed the sign yet again, stating that the title of best pizza in the country and world should belong to the Garden State.
“Now, you might have noticed, there’s some confusion about where the county’s and world’s best pizza is,” Murphy said while seated in front of a slice of pizza. “These guys in Connecticut claim something which is—I don’t get it at all. We all know it’s Jersey.”
He then went on to make fun of Connecticuters for eating pizza with a fork and knife, pantomiming the action before exclaiming “They cut the d*mn pizza. Are you kidding me?”
Before signing off, Murphy capitalized on a statement he made during the DNC in Chicago that rapidly gained traction on social media, signing off with a “We’re from Jersey baby, and they’re not!”
It is unclear why Murphy deleted the video, which was on his X account for about two hours.
Lamont declared Connecticut the Pizza Capital of the United States in February 2024 through a gubernatorial proclamation, which was later read into the Congressional Record in May 2024.
“These new signs are not just markers on our highways, they are a reflection of what makes Connecticut special,” Lamont said of the signs. “We want everyone entering our state to immediately feel proud of what we do well here, whether it’s making the nation’s best pizza, world class meals, national championships, or the most complex machines in the world.”
Other phrases following “Welcome to Connecticut” include “Home of the Basketball Capital of the World” following back-to-back national titles won by UConn men’s basketball in 2023 and 2024; “Home of the Submarine Capital of the World” as the vessel was invented in the state by David Bushnell; and “Stop for a bite in the Foodie Capital of New England,” referencing growing national recognition for state chefs and restaurants.
But what the Connecticut governor called a “fun way to greet visitors entering our state” has now turned into a regional rivalry over an Italian favorite.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has yet to weigh in with a statement for the state of New York, home of New York style pizza.