Mariano Rivera gets his street, NY City Council votes to rename River Ave. Rivera Ave.

12/10/13, "Mariano Rivera gets his street," NY Post, Beth DeFalco, George A. King III

9/18/13 NY Post front page

"The City Council went to bat for Mariano Rivera Tuesday with a vote to name a street outside Yankee Stadium in recognition of the Yankees’ ace pitcher.

“It’s an honor to have a street named after me,” Rivera told The Post afterwards.

“I have a lot of great memories driving down that street. My family and I are extremely grateful for this.”

Rivera, a future Hall-of-Famer and baseball’s all-time saves leader, retired this year after 19 years in pinstripes.

Council member Maria del Carmen Arroyo thanked The Post, which led the campaign to put up Rivera’s name in front of the stadium.

It’s unusual to name a street after someone who is still alive. But Arroyo said she pushed the honor because Rivera is such a big hit with her constituents, who demanded recognition for the retiring pitcher.

The vote was 47-0, with two abstentions, Jessica Lappin (D-Man.) and Peter Vallone (D-Queens). Bronx Bombers fan Thomas Ferrera persuaded Arroyo, whose district includes Yankee Stadium, to file the paperwork.

Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant in Midtown also got in on the action, holding a petition drive to encourage the Council to approve the bill.

In September, The Post featured a picture of die-hard fan Nicole Saulter, who took matters into her own hands by sticking a makeshift “A” to River Street across from the stadium, changing the sign to “Rivera Street.”

“It wasn’t happening quickly enough,” Saulter said. “I didn’t realize it takes so many steps.” The renaming of River Ave. and 161st Street could take up to three months."

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12/11/13, "Street Outside Yankee Stadium To Be Renamed After Mariano Rivera," newyork.cbslocal.com

"The City Council voted Tuesday to co-name one block of River Avenue after him. The block, which will be renamed Rivera Ave., is right outside Yankee Stadium.

Traditionally, a city street can only be co-named after someone who is deceased. But exceptions can be made."