STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Mayor Bill de Blasio commuted on the Staten Island Ferry Monday morning, enjoying a yogurt-and-granola parfait from his favorite Brooklyn haunt and taking in views of the Harbor from the upper deck.

"I love the ferry," de Blasio told the Advance during a brief interview aboard the 9:15 a.m. John F. Kennedy boat leaving from Whitehall. "Long before I was mayor, I just liked taking the ferry."

De Blasio agreed with former Mayor Michael Bloomberg that the Staten Island Ferry was the best first date in the city.

"He's right about that," de Blasio said with a chuckle. "Something we can agree on!"

Monday marked the start of the weeklong "City Hall in Your Borough" initiative, an attempt to better connect Staten Islanders with their city government.

>> Early look at de Blasio's week on Staten Island, day by day <<

"By spending a concentrated week, you're going to obviously focus more intensely on the issues on Staten Island, that'd be true when we do Queens and Brooklyn and the Bronx as well," de Blasio said. "It kind of gets everyone out of the City Hall bubble, connects them to the grassroots."

Monday is the 60th time de Blasio has come to Staten Island, though he's only ridden the ferry a handful of times as mayor.

"I've always loved being on the water. I love the Staten Island Ferry," he said again. "Right here we are on the most well-traveled ferry in the United States of America."

NOISY GREETING AT BOROUGH HALL

Some Staten Islanders continue to harbor an almost notorious dislike of the mayor and his more progressive policies. His approval rating in the conservative-leaning borough is consistently low.

Even when de Blasio arrived at Borough Hall after getting off the ferry, he was greeted by a small protest. Gary Phaneuf of Eltingville -- who is frequently seen on Staten Island protesting a variety of issues -- shouted to the mayor that he should be locked up at Rikers Island instead of closing the jail.

"Staten Island hates de Blasio, de Blasio hates Staten Island!" Phaneuf, 61, yelled. "That's what's really going down!" Phaneuf told the Advance he may continue to protest during "Blaz-stock" on Staten Island.

Staten Island was the only borough de Blasio lost in the 2013 general election -- by only about 6,400 votes. The Island was also the only borough Republican President Donald Trump won last November.

De Blasio indicated that these politics aren't his main concern this week.

"Do the work, you know, respond to people's needs and let the political chips fall where they may, I really believe that," he said. "If you're doing stuff that affects people's lives, they'll judge for themselves."

A WEEK IN TRUMP COUNTRY

De Blasio routinely criticizes the president and Staten Islanders may be the most similar to Trump's voters beyond the five boroughs.

"I don't think it's the same reality because Staten Island is a particular place, I think it has its own particular needs, its own particular views that I wouldn't say are necessarily the same as someplace in the Midwest," de Blasio said. "I think a lot of things that affect Staten Islanders' views are much more local. Much more about New York City."

De Blasio said that reaching contracts with municipal unions is one way his administration has tried to help "working people" on Staten Island.

"Obviously a lot of Staten Islanders are public servants," he said, adding later, "That doesn't necessarily mean they're going to agree with me on everything, but I think at least at lot of people on Staten Island can see we're trying to address the economic inequalities, we're trying to address the needs of working people."

FERRY SERVICE AND BOAT NAMES

Many Staten Islanders are most concerned with their excruciating commutes into Manhattan. They're frustrated that de Blasio's so-called "citywide" ferry service doesn't include a stop on Staten Island.

The issue will come up during meetings at Borough Hall this week. De Blasio said the city is working with Borough President James Oddo on a push to bring alternative ferry service to Staten Island.

"I think he's got a great idea," he said. "We have to see if we can bring it to fruition."

De Blasio is also still considering what to name two Staten Island Ferry boats. The first of the three new vessels was named for the late Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis and the new boat class will also be designated for the heroic New Dorp native.

"We ended up in a really great place, honoring a really great family and honoring a great fallen solider," de Blasio said of that choice. "That's a good example -- we'll keep looking for what says something to the people of Staten Island and evokes the meaning of Staten Island.

Does the mayor ever envision a Staten Island Ferry named for Bill de Blasio?

"I'm not the kind of guy who looks to have things named after me," he said. "There are plenty of people who are obsessed with that reality, not my thing, not my thing."

The mayor spent most of his 25-minute ferry ride talking to aides and enjoying views of the Statue of Liberty and New Jersey from a seat outside on the upper deck. He posed for selfies with a few tourists who approached him.

De Blasio shrugged at a remark about his long commute to Staten Island on Monday.

"It's all good," he said with a smile.