This is 99% invisible. I'm Roman Mars.

Criminal is a member of Radiotopia and probably my favorite podcast depending on the moment you're asking me

and we're presenting a story from them today because it's one of their best and most popular episodes and also in terms of subject it's the best

episode of 99% invisible that we never made it takes place in Oakland it's about

the built world liminal spaces and a statue that fights crime.

It was originally broadcast in 2015, but updated in 2019, including an interview with our own

Kurt Colstead.

It's just delightful.

It's called He's Still Neutral.

Here's Criminal.

You know, we've had muggings in this neighborhood, you know, we've had muggings in this neighborhood you know we've had muggings and you know aggressive

behavior aggravated assaults and all kinds of things over the years here you know so it is an

issue for lots of people there's maybe like five or six years ago,

you know, the community group gave everybody whistles in case somebody,

especially women or something,

were accosted or somebody was following and they just have to blow their whistle and alert other people that something was up, you know.

This is Dan Stevenson. He and his wife Lou have lived in Oakland, California for 40 years.

They live in a two-story purple Victorian in a neighborhood called East Lake.

He says the crime's been an issue there for as long as he can remember, but when you live in a city long

enough, you just learn to deal with it.

You know, a couple of times some guys tried to get my wallet and just city stuff that, you know, once you live in the city long enough you got at least be

a costed a couple of times or you're not there. Once you know everybody's position,

...