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Newsom’s $20 Million Newborn Diaper Plan Faces Ethics Questions Over Baby2Baby Link

Critics say the state’s choice of contractor raises conflict-of-interest concerns because a Baby2Baby leader sits on Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s nonprofit board.

Overview

  • California launched a hospital program that gives parents 400 diapers at discharge, with the rollout focused first on facilities serving many Medi-Cal patients.
  • Roughly $20 million in state funding flows through the Los Angeles nonprofit Baby2Baby to make and distribute the diapers, according to the coverage.
  • Budget documents cited in reports note $7.4 million already set aside and another $12.5 million proposed to extend operations through mid‑2027.
  • Scrutiny centers on governance ties, as critics point to Baby2Baby co-CEO Norah Weinstein’s seat on the board of Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s California Partners Project.
  • Opponents question cost and efficiency, citing claims of higher per‑diaper pricing and limited initial reach, while supporters frame the kits as short‑term help for new families facing rising diaper costs.