NEW YORK — Welcome to New York, Taylor Swift! The locals are kvetching about you already.

Swift’s new gig as New York City’s global welcome ambassador is getting a Bronx cheer (not that she knows what that is) from locals who questioned her street cred and mocked the videos she made for the city’s tourism agency, NYC & Company.

In the videos, she explains how to pronounce Houston Street, defines “bodega” and declares her love for the perfect latte.

The Daily News called her appointment “absurd.” A Brooklyn city councilman, Jumaane D. Williams, asked in a tweet, “Of all the past/present talent and celebrities that are actually native NY’ers explain again why #TaylorSwift is our ambassador?” Others wondered why Jay Z, Jerry Seinfeld or J Lo weren’t tapped.

But NYC & Company spokesman Chris Heywood defended Swift as the perfect choice.

“She is the No. 1 global pop star in the world right now,” he said. “She is a new New Yorker. She came to New York last spring. This is a new approach, all about the wonderment and excitement you have when you first come to New York City.”

Last year, Swift bought a $20 million apartment in Tribeca, a trendy downtown Manhattan neighborhood.

Her appointment coincided with the release of her single “Welcome to New York,” which is on track to sell 1 million copies in a week. She plans to donate proceeds from the song to city public schools, and is not being paid for the ambassador stint.