When the Baltimore facility opens, Cheltenham could be closed and youth and staff transferred. Leaving Cheltenham intact presents several problems. Even if the sprinkler system were funded today, it would still take until well into 2001 to install it. At that point, Cheltenham would just be an unworkable nightmare with better sprinklers. If the new facility is opened and the old Cheltenham remains, closing it will become nearly impossible.
Bureaucracies inevitably expand to fill their allotted space.
If the state misses the opportunity to transfer staff from Cheltenham to Baltimore, the department will hire new personnel with an interest in operating both places. Gradually, both facilities will be filled with nonviolent youths. In 10 years, another fire inspector will cite Cheltenham for safety violations. Mr. Robinson has the chance to make a very real difference for Maryland's young people because, as a former public safety director, when he says Cheltenham should be closed and youth safely diverted to the community, the legislature and governor pay attention. Maryland has a chance to make a watershed move toward true reform of juvenile justice.