The Voice made RTK request for city-owned properties; city said it was too 'vague'

Everyone knows the city of Rochester owns various properties throughout the city, but do you know exactly how many? Or what they're assessed value is. Or what their market value is?
Well, don't hold your breath while waiting for a response.
The Rochester Voice made such a request on Tuesday, but was denied any such documents.
The reason? Our request was determined to be too "vague."
After an initial denial from the city attorney on the grounds of supposed "vagueness," The Rochester Voice pointed out the request, in fact, was very specific.
"It's not vague at all, very specific," The Voice replied. "Right to Know 91A is for docs that represent all the real estate the city owns. This couldn't be clearer, my friend! Parenthetically, I don't need 40 docs on one property. I just need at least one doc on each property the city owns. Also, parenthetically, there is absolutely no reason why the citizens who pay taxes shouldn't know what real estate the city, and they by extension, own. The Right to Know as written above stands."
A little over an hour later City Attorney Terence O'Rourke sent an email that should draw the ire of many a Rochester resident.
"Your request is too vague," O'Rourke wrote. "It does not reasonably describe any governmental record that may be in the possession of the City. No further response to this request will be given by the City."
Now if the city owns particular property, wouldn't they be in possession of a deed? Wouldn't there be documents in the possession of the city that represent ownership by the city of said properties?
And why is this information so shrouded in secrecy?
Where is the transparency? Without transparency, there can be no trust.
C'mon Rochester, come clean with the residents who pay your salaries. Who give you three weeks of vacation after working for the city six months. Who pay you about 40 percent more than what us working stiffs get for a 40-hour work week.
This is not how you foster trust through transparency.

- HT