In the midst of another heat wave, Public Works Director Charles Herbertson, one of the most organized City Hall executives, was trying to describe a certain location adjacent to City Hall.
Compass directions in Culver City, he believes, are creative.
In an earlier interview, Mr. Herbertson had said, “what you think is north in Culver City actually is west. If you are looking down Duquesne or Hughes, you almost are looking due west. Pretty close.”
More recently when the Public Works director spoke, nothing, of course, had changed.
“Directions in this city are…,” and Mr. Herbertson’s voice trailed off. “I mean it is really hard to get your bearings.
“I am used to cities that are on a grid system where the streets run north-south,” said the Virginia native who came to City Hall from the South Bay shortly after the turn of the century.”
He chuckled.
“Culver City is not like that,” said Mr. Herbertson.
“They might start running north-south, but they will end up running east-west.”
Still smiling, Mr. Herbertson said that “I will give you Jefferson Boulevard” as a directionally-challenged sample of a multi-compass points street.
With that, Mr. Herbertson had to leave for an appointment. Jefferson was left dangling, which, he might have said, was appropriate.