An article in yesterday’s New York Times entitled, “Flags’ Waving Doesn’t Come Cheap” highlighted the fact that New York City spends about $160,000 per year keeping its flagpoles in shape. Last year the city spent about $3,000 for each flagpole for painting and any required repairs. That sounds like a ton of money – especially for a city – that is strapped for cash and cutting services for poor people, children, seniors and veterans. Still, the financial center of the world and the city most impacted by 9/11 should proudly display the American flag. Maybe New York City should start an “Adopt a Flagpole” sponsorship program and let some of the hundreds of thousands of businesses in the NY-Metro area take care of those flagpoles in a way that would be more cost-effective and timely.