Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced plans to sue Columbia University if it does not reopen its campus gates, which have been locked for three years following protests in 2023. The Mamdani administration has stated it will take legal action if College Walk, a pedestrian path on West 116th Street, is not reopened immediately, according to court documents filed on Tuesday.
Mamdani emphasized the city's support for reopening the walkway, contrasting it with the previous administration's stance. He made these comments during a press conference in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Previously, the city maintained that College Walk did not require pedestrian access under former Mayor Eric Adams.
Residents in the area filed a lawsuit against Columbia University and the city in January 2025, claiming that the pathway was intended to remain public after the city sold the land to the university decades ago. Mamdani noted that the city had reached an agreement with the plaintiffs, clarifying the original purpose of College Walk and committing to legal action if the walkway is not reopened.
Mamdani stated that the issue is a priority due to the historical agreement between the city and Columbia University regarding public access to College Walk. He highlighted the impact of the closure on community members' daily lives.
A spokesperson for Columbia University defended the institution's management of the walkway, stating that College Walk is private property and that the university has the legal right to control access to it. The spokesperson reiterated that the city and university have argued in court that the city's easement is limited to municipal infrastructure.
The details of the city's change in legal argument were first reported by the Columbia Spectator.