Calgary Herald editorial writer Paula Arab has just launched a new blog called Urban Scrawl. Read her first post below and watch for more Urban Scrawl posts from Paula to come in the Creative Calgarians Journals.

Start Scrawling
Welcome to Urban Scrawl, a new blog dedicated to finding the art and heart of this city.
Urban Scrawl will be an expression of unconventional beauty; a vehicle to showcase ideas that challenge the status quo in the hopes of creating a more caring and aesthetically pleasing Calgary. Some of these suggestions might be rejected outright, but I hope not. I hope Calgarians will see past what they might otherwise just view as graffiti, which, depending on the eyes of the beholder, is either vandalism or a bold, provocative art form.

Let’s be creative, controversial and thought provoking. Let the ideas flow and see where they go. I invite you, the reader, to tell me what you think would make Calgary a more livable, caring and sharing city. Suggestions and ideas can be big and small. What are other cities doing? What can we do differently? How do we build pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods? What do we do with the proliferation of horrid strip malls?

Calgary is a dynamic city growing by about 100 people a day. It’s an exciting time to live here but also a time of great challenges. We are fortunate to be Calgarians at this pivotal point in the city’s history. We can influence the direction it takes, guide our leaders, and ensure no one gets left behind. We have one chance to get it right. Let’s start talking.

I want to use this space to debate everything from social and housing issues — affordable housing, secondary suites, the NIMBY effect and the dreaded urban sprawl — to organic food, art shows, the latest up-and-coming band, and the best place to eat.

And for the fiscal conservatives and the economically challenged alike, here's something to make you all laugh:
Watch this video

Check out Urban Scrawl for more entries.