Since the leadership of the APS will never have a town meeting of its own volition;

it is up to citizens to declare their own town hall meeting
with the leadership of the APS.

Unless and until the leadership of the APS
summons the character and the courage,
to host town meetings on their own;

town hall meetings will take place only
during the public forum at every board meeting.

We have an advantage here.

If we declared a town meeting on Mayor Marty Chavez,
he would simply no-show and that would be it.

The same with Governor Bill Richardson,
or any other powerful public servant.

They would simply no-show. It is their "privilege"
to avoid if they want, having to answer even legitimate
questions about their public service.

Like public servants don't have any obligation to stand and
deliver good faith responses to legitimate questions about
their public service; and about the fate of the power and
the resources that we have entrusted to their use.

But the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education
is different; they have to been there. They can't no-show
their own board meeting just to duck questions.

Although it is worth noting that there are board members
with reputations for showing up to the meeting,
after the public forum, and after any opportunity to be
"petitioned", is long gone.

According to the first amendment to
the Constitution of the United States;

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and
to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Your right to stand up at the public forum and petition your
government, could not be made more clear.

The leadership of the APS would have you believe that,
during the public forum, you are not allowed to ask questions
of them, individually or collectively.

It simply isn't true.

Their rule that;

they cannot be compelled to answer questions;

is their own invention and serves only to enable them
to avoid having to answer questions in the only venue where
they have to meet their constituents face to face; and
eyeball to eyeball.

They cannot prevent you from petitioning your government
by asking a question about their use of power and resources
that belong fundamentally to you.

They may, if your question is upsetting enough,
have you arrested by their Praetorian Guard;
the APS Police Department; a publicly funded,
private police force that is accredited by no one;
that is certificated by no one; and who reports directly to,
and only to, the leadership of the APS.

Past practice is that they will arrest you,
take you to the lobby, and then release you
without filing any charges, without answering any questions,
and no records will be made of the incident.

That is seeming increasingly less likely; but it is reckless
to presume that they are not capable of doing something
they have done at least a half dozen times before.

If you stand at the public forum/town hall meeting and ask
a legitimate question; you will not get an answer.

In truth,
your right to ask questions has not yet been established.

It is the position of the leadership of the APS that;

they have no obligation to response candidly,
forthrightly, and honestly to legitimate questions
about their public service and the fate of your resources.

That is their position at least;
... so far.