Musician Billy Joel has taken Taylor Swift's side on the issue of her appointment as New York City tourism ambassador, USA Today reports.

"I see the New York press going, 'Taylor Swift is going to be the New York representative?'" the Long Island native said. "You snoots. Let her in. That's what New York is all about. I say, 'Welcome.'"

Joel also spoke about Swift's songwriting, saying he "[respects] what she's doing."

Swift discussed what moved her to write the song "Welcome to New York" in a video interview, saying: "The inspiration that I found in that city is kind of hard to describe and hard to compare to any other force of inspiration I've ever experienced in my life."

After over a year of living in New York, the Pennsylvania-born Swift was named New York City's "Global Welcome Ambassador" on October 27, according to Time.

Swift's appointment as New York's "Global Welcome Ambassador" did not sit well with some New Yorkers, according to the Daily News. Many protested the idea shortly after the announcement was made.

Twisted Sister frontman and Queens-born Dee Snider said, "I'm incensed! It's insulting. She doesn't have any life experience here, or connection to the town."

He added, "There's so may others - Jerry Seinfeld, for instance, if you want a big name. But Taylor Swift is the pop culture queen, so she moves into town, and she's the ambassador."

NY1 anchorman Pat Kiernan questioned Swift's knowledge of the city as well. "Does she know how much to add to a MetroCard to end up without a few cents trapped on it?" he asked. "Does she know which hotdog vendor sells the 'Receession Special?'"

A group of comedians also opposed Swift's appointment and spoofed the promotional videos she made for the city, according to CBS.