South El Monte

What does South El Monte have that other cities in the West do not? Freeway access and cheap rent, the Central Intelligence Agency says.

For the past 18 months, the spy agency has run its West Coast recruiting operation out of modest offices at 1160 Durfee Ave. near the 605 and Pomona freeways.

The South El Monte recruitment office may be one of the CIA’s best kept secrets. “South where?” agency spokeswoman Kathy Pherson responded to an initial inquiry about the facility.

Upon further checking, Pherson said that applicants from the West answering employment ads are asked to submit resumes to a post office box here for evaluation. Some undergo initial screening at the office before being sent to Washington, she said. Pherson said that the location was chosen because of its proximity to east-west and north-south freeways and because the rent was low. Just how low is confidential information, she said.