UPDATE: Marina Peterson called N4N to say that she cannot yet publicly discuss her ouster from the Rhode Island Tea Party. But she says she has been informed by the other two leaders of the group, Colleen Conley and Nan Hayden, they are planning to vote her out of the triumvirate. Once the vote is official, Peterson says, she'll be willing to talk

The Rhode Island Tea Party, attempting to move from protest vehicle to political force, has scheduled an open meeting November 24 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Warwick Public Library.

As I wrote in a cover story in the Phoenix a few weeks back, part of the challenge for the movement will be organizing a group of anti-establishment types.

Karen Malcolm, executive director of the labor-backed Ocean State Action advocacy group, is stepping down after seven years on staff. Peter Asen, a former journalist now on staff with Ocean State, will step in as interim director. From Malcolm's desk:

As our state and nation face these tumultuous times, there is also amazing opportunity for change and growth.

From RILPAC:

Providence, RI –At its scheduled annual meeting on Saturday, January 30, 2009, the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee (RILPAC) elected its 2009-2011 Board of Directors. RILPAC has been very effective in influencing the local political process, by endorsing candidates, mobilizing the Latino voters to get out and vote in support of its endorsed candidates to ensure their victory.

From the DL team:

What a difference a year can make! DL Providence is celebrating it's first anniversary this month, and we've received the best presents of all: a new President, a new administration, a new Congress, and -- in the words of President Obama -- a new way forward.

So stop by the Wild Colonial tomorrow night, raise a pint, and share stories about the Inauguration and hopes for the Obama Presidency.

Cliff Montiero, president of the Providence chapter of the NAACP, says he may seek support from his national organization to bring legal action challenging the paucity of minorities in municipal public safety positions in some Rhode Island communities.

Montiero, who made the statement during a taping this morning of WPRI/WNAC-TV's Newsmakers, would not identify specific communities.

Old friend Anna Galland, formerly the local director of the American Friends Service Committee, and now the national field director for MoveOn, will be in town this weekend to talk about her experience on the campaign trail and elsewhere.

She writes:

I'm coming to Providence on Saturday to help out with the AFSC's annual dinner.

-- In terms of so many schools canceling school today -- with nary an accumulation of snow yet on the ground -- is it that we hardy New Englanders have turned into a bunch of cringing weenies?

-- US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a fellow former US attorney with Eric Holder, and someone who has been supportive of Holder's nomination as AG, is due to speak on that during this afternoon's Senate Judiciary hearing.

You would hope the answer is "Yes!"

Alternate plans for the future of the library are due to be unveiled at City Hall by a new group at 5:30 this evening. From the Library Reform Group blog:

At 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 5, representatives of the newly formed Providence Community Library will hold a press conference on the second-floor steps in Providence City Hall to announce that this non-profit organization is prepared to take over the PPL library branches.

Obama's inauguration remains weeks away, but discontent about the direction of his administration is already simmering among some of his liberal supporters. Deirdre Fulton and Jeff Inglis, two of my colleagues at the Portland Phoenix, write about this topic this week (Jeff also has a Take Back Barack blog).

Speaking at the Hi-Hat during FairVote RI's Ballot Bash last night, Hendrik Hertzberg talked up the national popular vote concept as a way of enhancing democracy. As he noted, the 50 US states are divided into battlegrounds and spectators because of the decisiveness of the Electoral College. Four states -- Illinois, Maryland, Hawaii, and New Jersey -- have passed a NPV law, and activists in RI plan to seek an override of Governor Carcieri's veto of a related measure.

Matt Sledge recently posted about this event elsewhere in blogland:

There will be plenty more information to come in the coming weeks, but I wanted to give everyone on RI Future the first look at a big event FairVote Rhode Island has planned: New Yorker senior editor and former Jimmy Carter speechwriter Hendrik Hertzberg is coming to Providence (and he's in the blogosphere too).

Common Cause of RI has a successor to Christine Lopes:

John Marion has been named the Executive Director of Common Cause RI. Common Cause RI is a non-partisan advocacy group which works for open, ethical and accountable government. Marion takes the helm of RI's most effective "citizens' lobby" at a time when Rhode Island government faces challenges on many fronts.

A controversy concerning a recent action by Brown University members of Students for a Democratic Society has continued to swirl on College Hill -- and it can be expected to heat up anew tomorrow.

From the BDH:

A University Disciplinary Council hearing will be held [tomorrow] to adjudicate charges against eight members of Students for a Democratic Society.

This ain't Tony the Dancing Cop.

From the marketing visionaries at PETA:

PETA'S SEXY 'FASHION POLICE' CRACK DOWN ON LEATHER

Hot Ladies in Naughty Pleather Cop Costumes Will 'Bust' Anyone Wearing Clothing Stolen From Animals

What: Scantily clad in sexy uniforms, high-heeled boots, and police hats and holding signs that read, "Animal Skins Are a Fashion Felony," PETA's pair of sexy "fashion police" will be at the intersection of Dorrance Street and Kennedy Plaza in Providence on Thursday.