Recent statements from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander have caused uproar in East New York, where prominent voices claim he wrongly accused a celebrated Black and Veteran-owned eatery of “wasting $750,000 in taxpayer funds” through Department of Education–approved catering. Fusion East, the business at the center, is now contending with threats and suffering reputational damage, despite years spent serving healthy, cost-effective meals to over 100 public schools, many in lower-income neighborhoods.
A Request for Aid Becomes Public Criticism
Fusion East owner Andrew Walcott says the issue arose when he sought Lander’s help to collect almost $20,000 owed by the DOE. Rather than support, he was redirected to the Department, and soon his request was referenced in a city Comptroller statement that framed his business as an example of wastefulness.
“It is infuriating that a city official, whose office has promoted MWBE partnerships and professes to care for our communities, would attack a respected MWBE company with overstated waste claims—distorting a record of stellar service across numerous agencies,” Council Member Chris Banks said via NYC Newswire. “Fusion East’s contribution includes tens of thousands of nutritious meals for students, teachers, and emergency responders—at rates below limits set by Directive 6. The Comptroller’s perspective shows a lack of cultural sensitivity to community food values, already resulting in a security threat. Such irresponsibility is unacceptable from an elected citywide official.”
Banks remarked that these actions carry the appearance of being “racially tinged.”
Councilman Chris Banks, Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce CEO, Randy Peers at Press Conference – photo credit: NYC Newswire
Political Undertones Noted by Leaders
Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas, who represents District 60, said, “Brad Lander’s wrongheaded statement is disgraceful. It seems to have ignited a racist backlash that’s targeted a successful Black-owned business in East New York with hate, misinformation, and threats. It feels orchestrated to undermine Fusion East—a restaurant serving my district and providing affordable food to over 100 schools.”
Lucas clarified, “We must champion—not vilify—our community’s businesses. Fusion East generates local jobs and serves as a much-needed dining spot. Yet Lander’s words misled people to think the business took in $750,000 from one school—absolutely untrue. This undercuts the MWBE philosophy he claims to support and exposes hypocrisy… In the end, Brad Lander benefits from Black hardship.”
She hinted these actions were designed to politically target Mayor Eric Adams for perceived “Mayoral oversight,” disregarding the damage to her district’s businesses. “When you hurt a business here, you hurt the people here,” Lucas said.
Lucas Criticizes Lander Again
This incident marks the second time in recent weeks Assemblywoman Lucas has confronted the Comptroller. She had earlier denounced Lander for comments made on Errol Louis’s NY1 broadcast, suggesting Mayor Adams could be on the Jeffrey Epstein list; Lander later said the comment was a joke, but Lucas rejected this, emphasizing that making such allegations “in the open” can be harmful. She notes that while the earlier incident was framed as humor, the Fusion East situation resulted in targeted attacks on a local Black-owned business—clearly not a joke.
Wider Impact: Disparity in Contracts
Despite New York City’s annual budget of over $115 billion, Black-owned companies are awarded less than 2% of the city’s contracts. According to Lucas and other community leaders, this makes the public demeaning of a thriving minority-owned company even more concerning.
“Fusion East is just the kind of minority and Veteran-owned business we should be elevating,” said Randy Peers, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, “With their positive history supporting DOE and steady investments in Brownsville and East New York, they did not deserve this negative spotlight which only serves to discourage their valuable work.”
Success Built on Sweat, Not Favors
Walcott expresses frustration at being criticized after building his success through diligence. “I’m out there making deliveries myself across boroughs,” Walcott explained. “It’s tough to have all this work overshadowed by baseless criticism. Isn’t business supposed to grow? I was never given any handouts—my business grew from hard work alone.”
According to Walcott, Lander left a voicemail expressing regret over the threats Fusion East received, explaining his remarks were meant to highlight the lack of ‘Mayoral oversight,’ not wrongdoing by Fusion East. Yet, Walcott says, “There was no proper apology for the damage caused. You can’t have it both ways.”
Community Demands Apology
Assemblywoman Lucas calls for a direct apology to Fusion East, Andrew Walcott, and the community of East New York. “This restaurant represents our community’s achievements,” she stated. “Going after Fusion East is an attack on East New York.”
