East New York Fury: Lander’s Statement Accused of Inciting Racist Backlash Against Black Business

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s latest remarks have triggered outrage in East New York, where local officials say he wrongly accused a well-regarded Black and Veteran-owned restaurant of “wasting $750,000 in taxpayer funds” on Department of Education–approved catering contracts. The business in question, Fusion East, now faces threats and serious harm to its reputation—even though it has spent years delivering healthy, affordable meals to over 100 public schools, many in underserved communities.

A Plea for Assistance Turned Into Public Accusation

Fusion East proprietor Andrew Walcott reports that problems arose after he reached out to Lander’s office seeking help with close to $20,000 in unpaid Department of Education invoices. Rather than getting help, he was sent back to the DOE; shortly after, his concern appeared in a public NYC Comptroller statement that depicted his work as wasteful.

“It is frustrating that a citywide elected official, who has advocated for stronger partnerships with MWBE contractors and claims to support our neighborhoods, would attack a respected local MWBE enterprise with an overstated allegation of waste, distorting the accomplishments of a business with a strong history of excellent service for NYC agencies,” stated Council Member Chris Banks in a media release on NYC Newswire. “Fusion East has delivered tens of thousands of nutritious meals to students, staff, and emergency responders… all within the spending limits set by Comptroller’s Directive 6. Comptroller Lander’s messaging shows cultural insensitivity regarding the foods valued in our community and has already led to at least one threat against the business. Such conduct from a citywide elected representative is highly irresponsible.”

Banks further said the remarks had the “optics of racial bias.”

Councilman Chris Banks, Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce CEO, Randy Peers at Press Conference – photo credit: NYC Newswire

Chris Banks Nikki Lucas and Randy Peers at Press Conference – photo credit: NYC Newswire

Community Leaders Detect Political Intent

Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas, representing the 60th Assembly District, commented, “Brad Lander’s deceptive statement is shameful. It seems to have unleashed a racist backlash targeting a flourishing Black-owned business in East New York with slander and menacing threats. It appears orchestrated to bring down Fusion East, a restaurant that’s consistently served fair-priced meals to over 100 schools in my district.”
Lucas went on, “Let’s uplift our local businesses rather than turn them into targets. Fusion East creates jobs and vital dining choices. Yet, Lander’s statement erroneously implied the business earned $750,000 from a single school, which is simply untrue. This detracts from the MWBE initiative he claims to uphold and exposes his hypocrisy… Ultimately, Brad Lander is profiting from Black suffering.”

She implied the move was politically motivated, seeking to criticize Mayor Eric Adams for “Mayoral oversight” and ignoring the fallout for small businesses. “Targeting a business here means targeting our district,” Lucas declared.

Lucas’s Second Challenge to Lander

This is now the second time in a few weeks Lucas has criticized the Comptroller. Previously, she called him out after his remarks on Errol Louis’s NY1 program, where Lander hinted Mayor Adams could be tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s list. Although Lander later said it was a joke, Lucas said even suggesting such a thing “crossed a line.” The distinction now, she says, is that while the earlier incident was dubbed a joke, this time it directly harmed a minority-owned business in her district, clearly not a joke.

Wider Issue: Contracting Disparities

New York City’s budget exceeds $115 billion, yet Black-owned businesses secure less than 2% of municipal contracts. For Lucas and her colleagues, this makes it especially troubling when a successful Black-owned enterprise is publicly undermined.
“Fusion East is exactly the kind of minority and Veteran-owned business we should be promoting—not diminishing,” said Randy Peers, President & CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. “With their consistent track record supporting the DOE and constant investment in Brownsville and East New York, Fusion East and its leadership do not deserve this negative attention that only undermines years of meaningful contributions.”

Effort, Not Entitlements

Walcott says what stings most is that his achievements are the result of hard work. “I’m hustling between boroughs, sometimes personally transporting food, and after all that effort, to be criticized for building the business—it’s discouraging. Isn’t growth the goal of any company? No handouts here—it’s all hustle and results,” he said.
Walcott added that Lander later called with a voicemail expressing regret over the racial threats Fusion East received, insisting his comments were directed at “Mayoral oversight.” However, Walcott noted, “He still hasn’t apologized for the statement itself—you can’t have it both ways.”

Demand for an Apology

Lucas insists on a full apology to Fusion East, its owner, and the greater East New York community. “This business is a cornerstone for us,” she said. “Targeting Fusion East means targeting East New York.”