What happened
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is threatening to take legal action against Columbia University if the institution does not reopen its campus gates to the public. The gates have been locked for three years, since anti-Israel protests took place on the campus in 2023.
The mayor's administration has stated that it will take prompt legal action if the gates are not reopened immediately. This decision is reportedly based on an agreement between the city and Columbia University that the campus walkway, known as College Walk, was intended to remain open to the public.
A university spokesperson has defended the institution's right to manage access to the walkway, citing it as private property. However, the city argues that the walkway is intended for public use and that closing it has caused inconvenience to members of the community.
The dispute over the gates has been ongoing, with neighborhood residents suing the school and the city in 2025. The city has now reached an agreement with the plaintiffs, which commits it to taking legal action if Columbia University does not reopen the walkway.
