NYC Department of Education catered over 745K of Caribbean Soul food From Fusion East
staff writer • August 13, 2025
Imagine a school district spending nearly three-quarters of a million dollars on jerk chicken and plantains from one restaurant in a single year. That’s exactly what the NYC Department of Education (DOE) did in fiscal year 2025, channeling $745,823 to Fusion East, a Caribbean and soul food restaurant in Brooklyn. Flagged by City Comptroller Brad Lander, this expenditure has sparked outrage over fiscal oversight in the nation’s largest school district. Is this a commendable effort to support minority businesses or a glaring lapse in accountability? Let’s unpack the Comptroller’s report,
NYC Comptroller report shows shadowy dealings with Fusion East
On August 1, 2025, a New York report revealed the DOE’s $745,823 expenditure at Fusion East, citing expense records and communications obtained by the Comptroller’s office. The investigation, led by Deputy Comptroller Charlette Hamamgian, revealed a dramatic spending increase: $5,300 in 2022, $81,637 in 2023, $470,686 in 2024, and $745,823 in 2025—a 14,000% surge over three years.
The probe began with 13 invoices totaling $19,998 from Brownsville Collaborative Middle School for events between August 28 and September 6, 2024, most exceeding NYC Comptroller Directive #6 per-person spending limits. Further scrutiny uncovered $1.4 million spent at Fusion East since 2016, raising concerns about mayoral oversight. Is this an isolated issue or a symptom of deeper systemic flaws?
Breakdown of the $745,823 Caribbean Soul Food Expenditure
Of the $745,823 spent in 2025, $618,000 came from Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, with the remainder spread across other DOE schools.
The funds supported:
- Professional Development: Catering for educator workshops, including breakfasts and lunches for large groups.
- Administrative Meetings: Monthly DOE staff gatherings, often ordering Fusion East’s $5 special (jerk chicken, rice, and sides) for 200-300 people.
- Community Events: Student award ceremonies and parent engagement activities, leveraging Fusion East’s East New York location.
Fusion East, a Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE), aligned with Mayor Eric Adams’ goal to increase MWBE contracts.
Public and Official Reactions to DOE’s Fusion East Spending
The revelation ignited fierce reactions. Comptroller Brad Lander’s spokesperson, Sara Azcona-Miller, called the spending “glaring” evidence of inadequate oversight, noting that $745,823 could fund school supplies for countless teachers and students. On X, users like @NYCWatchdog labeled it “wasteful,” demanding audits, while @BrooklynParent acknowledged catering needs but questioned the scale, citing underfunded classrooms.
DOE officials, led by Chief Procurement Officer Elisheba Lewi, admitted in a March 18, 2025, response to Lander that Brownsville Collaborative violated purchasing rules.
Procurement Practices Under Fire in NYC Schools
The Fusion East case exposes flaws in DOE procurement. NYC Comptroller Directive #6 sets strict per-person spending limits, yet multiple invoices exceeded these, suggesting weak oversight. The DOE’s failure to conduct an agency-wide review of Fusion East transactions, as noted in its May 30, 2025, letter, raises concerns about systemic issues. Competitive bidding and transparent vendor selection could have identified cheaper alternatives, especially given Fusion East’s ties to Adams’ advisory boards.
Oversight and Accountability: A Call for Reform
Effective oversight is critical for the DOE, managing a $38 billion budget for 1,600 schools and nearly 1 million students. The Fusion East scandal reveals gaps in checks and balances, with Lander’s office pushing for stricter controls.
A 2025 poll found 65% of New Yorkers support tighter DOE oversight, reflecting public demand for accountability. This sentiment aligns with broader concerns about public spending, as seen in discussions about fraudulent charges impacting 26% of Americans in 2023.
Future Implications: Reforming NYC Education Spending
The Fusion East scandal could reshape NYC education spending policies. Potential reforms include:
- Enhanced Audits: Mandatory agency-wide reviews of vendor transactions to ensure compliance.
- Spending Caps: Stricter enforcement of Directive #6 limits to prevent excessive expenditures.
- Community Input: Engaging parents and teachers in budget priorities to align spending with educational needs.
The controversy may pressure Adams’ administration, facing a 2025 mayoral race, to prioritize classroom funding. Will this scandal spur meaningful change, or remain a cautionary tale?
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In an era where your online footprint defines your reality, what if a single platform could shape how the world sees you—or control what you see? Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT), a digital experience platform, manages and analyzes online data to optimize customer interactions and brand visibility across search engines, social media, and maps. But as it empowers businesses to influence public perception, could it also pave the way for dystopian systems tracking digital lives? Yext Overview: A Digital Visibility Powerhouse Yext, Inc. (YEXT) is a leading digital experience platform that helps businesses manage their online presence, ensuring accurate information across platforms like Google, Facebook, and Apple Maps. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in New York City, Yext went public in 2017 and serves over 2,500 clients, including major brands like Verizon and Marriott. The company's mission is to connect customers with businesses by optimizing search queries, social media interactions, and location data. In 2025, Yext launched Yext Research, a program to advance SEO and marketing strategies, amid CEO Michael Walrath's non-bindin g acquisition proposal to take the company private. With a market cap of $726 million and Q4 2025 revenue of $113.1 million (up 12%), Yext is a key player in digital marketing. But is its data prowess a double-edged sword? What Does Yext Do? Core Products and Services Yext offers a cloud-based platform that unifies a brand's online data, enabling consistent messaging across search, social, and maps. Its core products include: Listings Management: Syncs business info to 200+ directories, ensuring accuracy and boosting local SEO. Reviews and Social Management: Monitors and responds to customer feedback on platforms like Google and Facebook. Analytics and AI Insights: Analyzes search queries and social data to optimize interactions, with Yext Research launching in June 2025 to power future SEO strategies. Pages and Search Experiences: Builds customized landing pages and search tools for enhanced user engagement. Yext's AI-driven features, like natural language processing for queries, help brands shape customer perceptions. The tool's ability to track social interactions and influence online narratives is powerful, but could it enable manipulative systems? Yext's Role in the Digital Economy: Enhancing Brand Presence Yext empowers businesses to control their digital narrative by managing listings, reviews, and social data. For example, a retailer can update hours across platforms instantly, avoiding customer frustration. Its analytics provide insights into search trends, helping optimize marketing. In Q1 2026, Yext reported earnings matching estimates, with revenue beating projections. The company's focus on AI for personalized experiences positions it as a leader in digital transformation. But this data aggregation capability sparks concerns about privacy and manipulation. Yext Financial Performance: Should you invest ? Yext's Q4 fiscal 2025 results showed revenue of $113.1 million, up 12% year-over-year, driven by acquisitions like Hearsay Systems. The stock (YEXT) traded at $5.20 in August 2025, with a market cap of $726 million. Analysts forecast moderate growth, with an average price target of $7.50, implying a 44% upside. However, a CEO's acquisition proposal to take Yext private at an undisclosed price adds uncertainty. With revenue growth at 10% annually, Yext is positioned for stability but faces competition from Google and Yelp. Yext's 2025 trajectory includes the CEO's non-binding acquisition proposal, expressing openness to alternative bidders to maximize stockholder value. The company plans to release Q2 2026 results in early September, expecting continued growth. With a focus on AI for SEO and marketing, Yext Research aims to power future strategies.
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The partnership between Avalanche (Avax) and Toyota Blockchain Lab (the research department of toyota) to build Mobility Orchestration Networkis. MON is reshaping urban mobility by integrating blockchain technology with autonomous vehicle systems. Multi-chain framework: The MON prototype features four custom, Avalanche-based Layer-1 blockchains, each handling specific functions: Issuance of security tokens Management of mobility rights Tracking of service usage Operations for stablecoins Why are Avalanche Blockchain and Toyota Collaborating on Atomized driving Taxis. Announced in September 2025, their collaboration introduces the Mobility Orchestration Network (MON) is a a blockchain-based infrastructure designed to power autonomous robotaxi fleets. Leveraging Avalanche’s high-throughput platform and Toyota’s expertise in autonomous driving, MON aims to create a secure, transparent, and efficient ecosystem for next-generation transportation. The Avalanche-Toyota Blockchain Lab partnership, launched in September 2025, marks a pivotal step in merging blockchain with autonomous mobility. The Mobility Orchestration Network (MON) aims to streamline robotaxi operations, from financing to ride-sharing, using Avalanche’s scalable blockchain. What is the Mobility Orchestration Network (MON)? A Blockchain-Based Mobility Solution by Toyota MON is a blockchain intermediary network designed to “orchestrate trust and unlock mobility’s value” for autonomous robotaxi fleets. Built on Avalanche’s multichain infrastructure and Interchain Messaging (ICM), it enables secure data sharing for vehicle financing, ride-sharing, insurance, and carbon credit tracking. MON’s neutral platform integrates with existing networks, supporting decentralized business models, per toyota-blockchain-lab.org . Key Applications MON supports on-chain operations like leasing, payments, and ownership transfers, creating a seamless ecosystem for robotaxi fleets. Its proof-of-concept, funded with $10.8 million, aims to standardize mobility processes, per en.cryptonomist.ch . Research Insight: MON’s prototype handles 1,000 transactions per second, per Avalanche’s technical specs. Role of Avalanche in Autonomous Robotaxi Infrastructure Why Avalanche’s Blockchain? Avalanche’s platform, known for sub-second finality and high throughput, processes thousands of transactions per second, ideal for real-time robotaxi data demands. Its multichain framework supports dedicated chains for mobility, ensuring scalability and security, per blockonomi.com . Tokenizing Mobility MON introduces VehicleOwnership tokens (ERC-721 NFTs) linked to Mobility Oriented Accounts (MOAs), enabling seamless ownership transfers and financing. This tokenization reduces administrative costs by 50%, per a 2025 Benzinga analysis, allowing investors to fund and track robotaxi fleets transparently. Decentralized Robotaxi Operations MON envisions robotaxis running on decentralized systems, with smart contracts automating ride scheduling, billing, and maintenance. This could reduce operational costs by 20%, per cryptorobotics.ai , enhancing efficiency for operators and passengers. Research Insight: Toyota tested blockchain for vehicle data tracking in 2023, per Toyota Blockchain Lab. Key Features of the Autonomous Toyota Robotaxi Infrastructure MON enables real-time Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication, optimizing routes and reducing congestion. Integration with traffic systems enhances safety. Carbon Credit Tracking MON tracks emissions on an immutable ledger, supporting carbon credit systems. This aligns with sustainability goals, appealing to regulators and eco-conscious consumers, Regulatory Alignment Aligning manufacturers and regulators for blockchain recordkeeping is critical. Roi Hirata of Ava Labs notes challenges in standardizing data formats across jurisdictions, requiring collaboration MON aims to supports smart cities with dynamic pricing and decentralized ownership, reducing car ownership reliance.