Eliu Rivera

Eliu Rivera
Eliu Rivera
Deputy Mayor of Jersey City

Eliu Rivera (December 8, 1943 – October 1, 2017) was a Democratic Party politician who represented District 4 on the Hudson County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders, one of nine members who serve in a legislative role administering all county business. District 4 includes portions of the City of Jersey City, New Jersey. He served in office from 2006 to July 1, 2013, when he resigned from office and was replaced by E. Junior Maldonado.^[1]^[2]

Rivera was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico and migrated with his family to the mainland United States at an early age. He attended local schools, graduated from William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City and continued his education at Rutgers University and Saint Peter's University.^[3]

A community activist, Rivera was employed by the Puertorriqueños Asociados for Community Organization (P.A.C.O.) agency since 1970 and serving as its Executive Director, Rivera worked extensively in the housing, economic development, health, education and community development areas.

Rivera is a former Deputy Mayor of Jersey City. In 2012, the corner of Manila Avenue and Second Street was renamed in his honor.^[4]

Rivera died on October 1, 2017, at the age of 73 in his hometown Aibonito, Puerto Rico, from the lingering effects of a chemical he had accidentally inhaled six years earlier that required him to breathe from an oxygen tank.^[3]^[5]

References

^ McDonald, Terrence T. "New Hudson Freeholder E. Junior Maldonado to be sworn in next week", The Jersey Journal, July 12, 2013. Accessed October 2, 2017. "Former Jersey City City Councilman E. Junior Maldonado, booted out of office by voters in 2005 when Mayor Steve Fulop made his first bid for council, will become a Hudson County freeholder next week. Maldonado, 57, the deputy executive director of the Hudson County Improvement Authority, was voted in by Democratic committee members of the county’s 4th District, which he will represent on the nine-member freeholder panel.He replaces former Freeholder Eliu Rivera, who resigned effective July 1."
^ Eliu Rivera-obituary
^ ^a ^b Mota, Caitlin. "Former freeholder and Puerto Rican leader Eliu Rivera dies at 74", The Jersey Journal, October 2, 2017. Accessed October 2, 2017.
^ Little, Celeste. "Jersey City intersection named 'Dr. Eliu Rivera Way' in honor of the still active community pillar", The Jersey Journal, May 9, 2012. Accessed October 2, 2017. "The intersection of Second Street and Manila Avenue in Jersey City was christened yesterday “Dr. Eliu Rivera Way” in honor of the longtime freeholder and community figure."
^ Kowsh, Kate. "Hudson County Freeholder Eliu Rivera has upbeat prognosis after weeks in hospital", The Jersey Journal, July 1, 2011. Accessed October 2, 2017. "Jersey City Freeholder Eliu Rivera has been hospitalized for several weeks and was in stable condition yesterday at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, colleagues said.Rivera, 67, was hospitalized earlier this month after unintentionally inhaling an unknown substance, Freeholder Chairman William O’Dea said."

[1] McDonald, Terrence T. "New Hudson Freeholder E. Junior Maldonado to be sworn in next week", The Jersey Journal, July 12, 2013. Accessed October 2, 2017. "Former Jersey City City Councilman E. Junior Maldonado, booted out of office by voters in 2005 when Mayor Steve Fulop made his first bid for council, will become a Hudson County freeholder next week. Maldonado, 57, the deputy executive director of the Hudson County Improvement Authority, was voted in by Democratic committee members of the county’s 4th District, which he will represent on the nine-member freeholder panel.He replaces former Freeholder Eliu Rivera, who resigned effective July 1."

[2] Eliu Rivera-obituary

[JJobit-3] Mota, Caitlin. "Former freeholder and Puerto Rican leader Eliu Rivera dies at 74", The Jersey Journal, October 2, 2017. Accessed October 2, 2017.

[4] Little, Celeste. "Jersey City intersection named 'Dr. Eliu Rivera Way' in honor of the still active community pillar", The Jersey Journal, May 9, 2012. Accessed October 2, 2017. "The intersection of Second Street and Manila Avenue in Jersey City was christened yesterday “Dr. Eliu Rivera Way” in honor of the longtime freeholder and community figure."

[5] Kowsh, Kate. "Hudson County Freeholder Eliu Rivera has upbeat prognosis after weeks in hospital", The Jersey Journal, July 1, 2011. Accessed October 2, 2017. "Jersey City Freeholder Eliu Rivera has been hospitalized for several weeks and was in stable condition yesterday at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, colleagues said.Rivera, 67, was hospitalized earlier this month after unintentionally inhaling an unknown substance, Freeholder Chairman William O’Dea said."

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