Front Porch Pensacola

Front Porch Pensacola is the local arm of a state agency, The Governor's Front Porch Florida Initiative, that was created by Governor Jeb Bush in 1999 "as a means to rebuild distressed communities [and] revitalize underserved communities." It operates under the State of Florida's Office of Urban Opportunity. The Pensacola branch was established in October, 1999, through the efforts of Johnny Crawford. Crawford became the group's first director before being ousted for excluding community input and soliciting funds without direction from the state office.

At the local level, the organization is administered by a volunteer council. The currently community liaison is Thelma Manley, who replaced Crawford and is paid a part-time salary of $24,999 a year. Front Porch Pensacola operates out of the Long Hollow Community Center at 1040 North Guillemard Street.

Controversy

On March 18, 2007, the Pensacola News Journal reported that chairperson Michelle MacNeil and council treasurer Melanie Nichols were threatening resignation following claims that Manley had made payments from the group's budget, benefitting herself and family members, without council authorization. In a draft of her resignation letter obtained by the newspaper, MacNeil (who is white) said that her concern regarding Manley (who is black) had been met with "resistance, hostility and personal attacks" and that "my race has clouded reasonable judgment of my character." MacNeil also alleged that Manley's administrative duties, such as paying utility bills, had been neglected. Two days later, the News Journal reported that MacNeil and Nichols had postponed their resignation, pending an inspection by the Florida Department of Community Affairs would be sent to investigate the allegations.