SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The total number on the Sacramento City Council is down to eight after Councilmember Sean Loloee announced his resignation Thursday afternoon.
Loloee continues to face 25 federal charges in connection with his Viva Supermarkets businesses. In his 6-minute video, Loloee blamed Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg for causing a ‘politically-motivated circus.’
“My resignation is not a concession to my political opponents that any of their allegations are true, or their methods are righteous or not,” said Loloee, who was elected in 2020 to the District 2 seat.
Loloee has been charged with 25 federal crimes over his Viva Supermarkets. In December, he and his grocery store general manager, Karla Montoya, were indicted and accused of conspiracy, using false immigration documents and falsifying records to get COVID-19 relief money.
Steinberg said Loloee didn't tell him in advance about his resignation.
“I just wish him the best. That is all. He did the right thing,” said Steinberg.
The mayor said he initially asked Loloee to resign because the court order asked him to stay at his residency in Granite Bay, which is outside the north Sacramento district he was elected to represent.
“I feel bad for him and his family,” said Steinberg. “But I also feel bad for the people of the district because they deserve full representation.”
Maria Grijalva, a labor activist, has been a key voice in helping raise the voice of Viva Supermarkets employees which eventually led to the federal indictment.
“I had no idea this would escalate so high, no idea. It is phenomenal,” said Grijalva. “He is like a perpetrator to me. To know that he is no longer out there bullying other people, it is just, really, a good relief. It is just a very good feeling.”
Meanwhile over on Del Paso Boulevard, Del Paso Partnership Executive Director Daniel Savala said there are too many issues that need the full attention of leaders and the indictment complicated that.
“We have a huge budget process we are going through in our city, tremendous amount of need right now for the businesses on Del Paso Boulevard. We need some consistency. We need answers,” said Savala. “I took a sigh of relief. It is finally over. There is light on the horizon.”
There is a vacancy for that district on the city council. Steinberg said he cares very deeply about that district that is often overlooked. During the news conference, he wants to assure people that the council will not leave them behind.
Loloee is due back in Federal Court on Feb. 12.
