Phoenix is preparing to ask voters to approve $500 million for new parks, housing, cultural centers, police stations and more in its first bond election since 2006.

Why it matters: Bond elections, like this one planned for November 2023, are one of the most significant ways cities can invest in new buildings and infrastructure.

Previous bond elections have funded Arizona State University's downtown Phoenix campus, Burton Barr Central Library, and new fire stations across the city.

Driving the news: The city council voted last week to establish a General Obligation Bond Committee of more than 75 community leaders who will propose a list of projects to send to voters in 2023.

How it works: Unlike voter-approved sales-tax increases, like the Phoenix transportation tax approved by voters in 2015, bonds don't necessarily raise taxes for residents.

Flashback: In the 2006 election, voters overwhelmingly approved $878.5 million for projects across seven categories ranging from affordable housing to higher education.

What they're saying: Councilman Jim Waring told Axios some city buildings, particularly police and fire stations built in the '70s and '80s, have significant structural, mold and flooding issues.

• Whether he'll support the full bond depends on the details, though, which he said won’t be hashed out until later this year.

Full story: Phoenix to ask voters to approve new bonds for parks and housing

A new deal to dramatically expand Arizona's voucher-style program for K-12 schools may be in the works.

What's happening: Republican House Majority Leader Ben Toma is making a late push to expand the Empowerment Scholarship Account program to all students.

Context: Under the ESA program, parents who pull their children from public schools receive money from the state that they can use for private school tuition, tutoring, learning materials or other educational purposes.

• Currently, the ESA program is only available to certain groups of students, like those with disabilities, anyone in a failing school, or those residing within Native American reservations.

The big picture: Toma wants to expand the program to make ESAs available to all students in Arizona.

The other side: Support for ESAs has historically fallen along partisan lines, with Republicans in support and Democrats in opposition.

Yes, but: Three House Republicans are hesitant to vote for any expansion plan.

• GOP Reps. Joel John, Joanne Osborn and Michelle Udall have concerns about accountability and oversight of the program.

Flashback: The last time the legislature approved a massive ESA expansion bill in 2018, opponents collected enough signatures for a citizen referendum. Voters overwhelmingly rejected it.

Keep reading.

Phoenix is gearing up to build on one of the prime pieces of undeveloped land left in downtown through a land swap with Arizona State University.

• The often-busy ASU parking lots south of McKinley Street between 1st and 2nd streets are at the heart of the deal.

Why it matters: Downtown Phoenix has added more than a dozen high-rise residential, hotel, commercial and university buildings to its skyline in the past decade, eating up much of the vacant land once commonplace in the center of the city.

Between the lines: The city of Phoenix owns the parking lots, but had an agreement with ASU that would have allowed the university to build on the property.

• Phoenix plans to amend the contract to transfer development rights back to itself, according to plans outlined by economic development staff at a subcommittee meeting last week.
• In return, ASU gets to keep its Mercado building, which was set to transfer to the city under the original agreement.

What's next: The full city council will vote on the land swap in June.

📣 Sound off: What do you want to see on these lots? Let us know at [email protected].

🎲 The company that owns Monopoly is making a Scottsdale-themed version of the classic board game. (AZCentral)

🗑 Trash collection routes will change for about 80% of customers in Phoenix. (KJZZ)

Axon will stop producing a Taser-equipped drone after a majority of its ethics board resigned. (AZfamily)

☕️ The first Phoenix location of Seattle-based coffeehouse Caffe Vita will open in the old Easley's Fun Shop building. (Phoenix New Times)

🎾 The ball is in your court. Check out these opportunities.

1. Strategic Sales Executive at GlobalTranz.
2. Annual Giving Program Manager at Phoenix’s Children.
3. Director, HR at Honeywell.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Peruvian cuisine is coming soon to the heart of Phoenix's Melrose District with the new El Chullo Peruvian Restaurant & Bar, at 4414 N. 7th Avenue.

Details: The original El Chullo, which opened on 7th Street and Virginia Avenue in 2014, has been closed since April due to a fire in the walk-in cooler.

• That will reopen, but the new location on 7th Avenue will become El Chullo's main location, Jose Luzcando Ramirez, whose parents own the restaurants, told Axios.

The latest: Luzcando Ramirez hopes the new El Chullo will open in the next month. The old location will likely take a bit longer.

What he's saying: "When you see our menu you’re going to get something that you like," Luzcando Ramirez told Axios. "You get a little bit of everything."

• He said El Chullo's most popular dish is its ceviche.
• Another favorite is the Peruvian-Chinese fusion dish lomo saltado, which is beef tenderloin strips marinated in soy sauce and vinegar, sauteed with red onion, tomatoes, cilantro and French fries.

What's new: With a bigger kitchen, the new El Chullo will be able to offer more dishes than the original location did, like the tiradito, which is sashimi-style raw fish with a yellow pepper sauce.

💭 Jeremy's thought bubble: I loved the old El Chullo and can’t wait to try the new one.