Election Day in the District 5 county commission race is just over a week away, but early voting is here, and so is our voter guide for the special election. Check it out for their takes on everything from transit to gun control. 

So far we’ve heard from candidates Carlos Garin and Eileen Higgins, and we’re hoping to hear back from the other candidates so we can share their takes with you as well. Stay tuned.

Not sure whether this race will impact your neighborhood? Check this map to see if you’re in the district, which covers portions of Downtown Miami, Brickell and Little Havana, plus most of Miami Beach.

There are four early voting locations, open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Find the one closest to you here. Early voting runs through May 20, so don’t miss your chance, people.

Check out the guide here.

Thanks to Daniella Pierre, Carol Fanfield, Jemar Souza and so many others who sent in questions and feedback.

It’s really happening. We know, we know, it’s seemed like the boy who cried Brightline for months – but not anymore. The high-speed rail will start service to Miami on this Saturday, May 19. Here’s hoping the company’s extra efforts to keep people safe around the train tracks have paid off. (Miami Herald)

Hustlin’ backwards. Miami has grown  into a center for business, tourism, technology, and much more, but the the thing we haven’t grown much is our wallets. The median household income in Miami-Dade County is now lower than it was in 1970, once adjusted for inflation). Couple that with a lack of affordable housing around the area, and it’s a pretty rough economic picture of the 305. (Miami Herald)

Some “Happy” news. If that money news got you down, here’s something cool: Producer and singer Pharrell Williams is moving into the restaurant game in Miami. He’s opening a restaurant called Swan and a bar called Bar Bevy in the Design District. No word on the cuisine yet, but knowing Pharrell’s eccentric music and style, we’re betting it’ll be worth checking out. (SFBJ)

The big one. An inside look at the Miami Worldcenter site has confirmed that the “city within a city” project is massive. The 27-acre site’s luxury condo tower will open next year and a retail-filled parking garage is also under construction. The development will connect to Brightline, the Metrorail and a new Tri-Rail station, and will even feature an electric race car track at a new hotel. But will the $2.7 billion project really be wrapped up a few years from now? (Miami Herald)

Speaking of development… There’s a lot of it coming in Overtown. The county unveiled plans to tear down and replace 226 units at the Culmer Place and Culmer Gardens public housing developments. The plan is in the very early stages and calls for building up to 800 new homes in the area. Meanwhile, over in Little Havana, a group of small business owners have teamed up to fight increasing rents in the neighborhood that they fear will push them out. The group, called Que Pasa, Little Havana?, also advocates for cultural preservation. (Miami Times, Miami Herald)

Not cool. After a long City of Miami commission last week, Commissioner Joe Carollo decided to make a “joke” about Commissioner Ken Russell’s haircut and likened it to the haircut of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Russell, whose mother is Japanese, called the comment racist in a series of tweets and told Carollo it was inappropriate. Carollo attempted to defend his comments and said, “It’s not my fault he got a bad haircut.” We’re not sure anyone’s buying that defense. (Miami Herald)

OK, we have to clear something up: Last week we talked about SoFlo congressional districts in play but neglected to mention a few folks. So we’re all on the same page, here are all the representatives in Miami-Dade, and their parties: On the Republican side we’ve got Carlos Curbelo, Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. The Democratic reps are Frederica Wilson and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. (Thanks to some sharp readers for keeping us on point)

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY.

Make it a great week, Miami.