Gavin Newsom’s controversial “free diapers” program won’t face the scrutiny typical for state contractors — with the governor quietly carving out an exemption from bidding rules, despite growing questions about favoritism and waste.
The $12.5 million ”Golden State Start” was rolled out ahead of Mother’s Day and offers 400 free diapers to all California parents regardless of income.
Newsom is under fire for tapping Los Angeles-based Baby2Baby to run the program because of the nonprofit’s close ties to his gender filmmaker wife.
Baby2Bay’s co-CEO, Norah Weinstein sits on the board California Partners Project, which collects “behested payments” from her husband to boost her profile as a gender justice activist.
In a letter to the California Legislature’s budget committees obtained by The Post, Newsom’s office asks not only asked $12.5 million for the next year, but for an exemption from competitive bidding practices designed to safeguard taxpayer’s money.
