Andrew Walcott, owner of Fusion East, a Caribbean restaurant in East New York, is facing backlash and threats against himself and his business after the city’s Comptroller reprimanded the Department of Education (DOE) over food service contracts.
Walcott, who is a minority and women-owned business enterprise (M/WBE) vendor, expressed surprise that his work supplying meals to over 100 public schools was singled out in a recent report.
The city Comptroller’s 2023 report highlighted that the average value of contracts for non-certified firms was around $4.56 million, contrasting sharply with the $511,000 average for MWBEs.
The scrutiny began after Comptroller Brad Lander provided procurement records to amNewYork, which resulted in an article discussing DOE’s approval of catering orders totaling $750,000 from Fusion East.
Lander’s office pointed to 13 invoices from Walcott’s restaurant, all linked to Brownsville Collaborative Middle School for a total of $19,998, raising concerns about exceeding per-school limits for meals.
Walcott maintains that he merely fulfilled reasonable, widely-requested orders for meals, often serving larger events such as graduations and teacher appreciation events.
Despite the orders’ legitimacy, Walcott has found himself in the crosshairs of public outrage, leading to an anonymous threat advising him to “watch his back.”
“That shook me enough to report to the police,” Walcott said.
Walcott, who also operates food trucks and employs several drivers to manage deliveries, argues that his meals are both nutritious and culturally appropriate for the communities he serves.
Jenna Lyle, a spokesperson for the DOE, defended the department, stating that no violations occurred regarding procurement rules and that corrective actions have been taken.
“Financial responsibility is critical to New York City Public Schools, and we worked closely with the Comptroller’s team to respond to these concerns,” Lyle said.
Chloe Chick, a spokesperson for the Comptroller, expressed regret that public outrage was directed at Fusion East, emphasizing that the DOE needs to follow the required oversight instead of blaming the vendor.
Merchant advocates have rallied behind Walcott, including Randy Peers, president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, who highlighted Walcott’s charitable efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Fusion East delivers for its customers, and one customer happens to be the DOE,” Peers said, insisting that if the DOE made an error, the blame should not fall on Walcott.
City Council Member Chris Banks criticized the Comptroller’s office for labeling the funds spent on Fusion East as a
image source from：bkreader
