CRYSTAL: HI, EVERYBODY.

I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.

TONIGHT, AS VIOLENCE ESCALATES IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE, WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY BEHIND THE CONFLICT AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA.

A FORMER U.N. ADVISOR AND LECTURER OF MIDDLE EAST POLITICS AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE WILL HELP US BREAK IT ALL DOWN.

THEN, THE STATE IS ALMOST OUT OF SHELTER FOR MIGRANTS COMING TO MASSACHUSETTS.

GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY SAYS SOON, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GUARANTEE EMERGENCY HOUSING.

FINALLY, WE LOOK AT BOSTON'’S'’S CARIBBEAN FASHION WEEK AHEAD OF ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY.

THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT TO KEEP TRACK OF AS FIGHTING ESCALATES IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE.

THE GAZA STRIP IS NOW UNDER SIEGE AS ISRAEL DROPPED BOMBS IN RETALIATION FOR HAMAS'’ BRUTAL ATTACKS WHICH KILLED 1400 PEOPLE EARLIER THIS MONTH.

MOST OF THEM CIVILIANS.

SINCE THEN, ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY THEIR COUNTERATTACKS HAVE KILLED SEVERAL TOP HAMAS LEADERS, BUT PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE AS WELL.

THE PALESTINIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS THAT MORE THAN 2800 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED ALSO MOSTLY CIVILIANS.

PLUS, MORE THAN 10,000 HAVE BEEN HURT, AND THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS CUT OFF ACCESS TO FOOD, WATER, AND ENERGY FOR EVERYONE ELSE IN GAZA.

AND OF COURSE, ALL OF THIS IS INFORMED BY MANY DECADES OF WAR AND TENSION THAT LED UP TO ALL OF THIS.

AND UNDERSTANDABLY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE U.S. ARE STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT BEHIND THIS CONFLICT.

DINING ME NOT TO HELP BREAK IT DOWN IS --AS BEST HE EZZEDINE FISHERE CAN IS EZZEDINE FISHERE, A SENIOR LECTURER AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE WHO WORKED AS A POLITICAL ADVISOR TO THE U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST DURING THE EARLY 2000'’S.

WELCOME, SIR.

EZZEDINE: THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL: CERTAINLY, THIS IS AN ENORMOUS TOPIC TO TOPPLE -- TO TACKLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR EDUCATED OPINION, AND ALSO IN THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, HAS LED UP, THE PRECIPITATING MOMENTS TO THIS PARTICULAR BRUTAL ATTACK?

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS?

EZZEDINE: OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS AS HE SAID, A LONG AND OLD CONFLICT.

IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS, THE INCIDENCE OF BRUTAL ATTACKS ARE SO MANY IN THIS CONFLICT.

OF COURSE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT, AND WE UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS VIOLENCE IS COMING FROM.

IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS COULD LEAD TO.

BUT HAVING SAID THIS, AND BEFORE WE GO INTO THE CONTEXT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO VIEWER IS CONFUSED.

EXPLAINING THE CONTEXT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH JUSTIFYING WERE TALENTED.

CRYSTAL: THAT'’S RIGHT.

EZZEDINE: THOSE ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE CAN DO BOTH.

WE CAN BE INDIGNANT WHY THE BRUTALITY AND CERTAINLY CONDEMN IT, BUT ALSO IF WE WANT TO STEP BACK AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS IS GOING, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM.

I HOPE THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE.

CRYSTAL: ABSOLUTELY, FOR SURE.

OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO ANYONE WHO HAS LOST ANYONE IN THE GAZA STRIP TONIGHT AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CONFLICT, AS WE SIT HERE IN THE U.S.

WATCHING THESE IMAGES, PERHAPS TOUCHED BY FAMILY MEMBERS OR PEOPLE WE KNOW IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

EZZEDINE: IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT IN A VERY RATHER SIMPLISTIC BUT ALSO CONSENT WAY, IS WHAT YOU HAVE IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE, WHAT WE HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST CENTURY, IS A CONFLICT OVER A LAND BETWEEN TWO PEOPLES.

EACH OF THEM HAS A HISTORIC CLAIM TO THAT LAND.

ONE SIDE LIVED THERE FOR CENTURIES AND SEE IT AS ITS HOMELAND.

AND THE OTHER SIDE SEES IT AS ITS HISTORICAL AND ANCESTORS OWN LAND, AND WANT TO COME BACK TO IT.

YOU HAVE THIS CLASH BETWEEN PALESTINIAN NATIONALISM ON ONE HAND, AND ZIONISM ON THE OTHER HAND.

AS I SAID, IT IS A PROTRACTED CONFLICT, IT TOOK MANY SHAPES, MANY ROUNDS OF VIOLENCE.

BUT ULTIMATELY, WHAT SETTLED DOWN IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS BOTH SIDES NEED TO SHARE THE LAND.

REGARDLESS OF THE VALIDITY OF THE CLAIMS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU CAN PROVE IN A COURT OF LAW YOU HAVE A DEED TO THIS LAND, WHETHER THROUGH THE BIBLE OR OTHER MEANS, ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE TWO PEOPLES TODAY WHO LIVED ON THIS LAND AND WHO NEED TO SHARE IT.

HOWEVER, THE ATTEMPTS TO GET THE TWO PEOPLE TO SHARE THE LAND SO FAR HAVE FAILED.

WE HAVE MADRID CONFERENCE 91, 1993 COMIC-CON DAVID IN 2000, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO BRING, AND MAX DRAWN, AND SO ON.

NONE OF IT, SO FAR, HAD MANAGED TO GET ENOUGH AGREEMENT ON BOTH SIDES ON THE PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI SIDE SO WE CAN GO TO A PEOPLE RESOLUTION.

WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS IS THE CONFLICT IS A BIT FROZEN.

AS SECRETARY BLINKEN SAID IN HIS CONGRESSIONAL HEARING UPON HIS NOMINATION, IS THAT THERE IS NO HOPE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE TO REACH A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT.

SO THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN TRYING TO KEEP THINGS AS THEY ARE AND PREVENT FURTHER DETERIORATION.

FORTUNATELY, ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS CONFLICT IS THAT IS YOU CAN'’T KEEP THE STATUS QUO FOR A LONG TIME, BECAUSE ON BOTH SIDES, YOU HAVE PARTIES WHO ARE KEEN ON CHANGING THE STATUS QUO AND PUSH IT TO FURTHER ADVANCE THEIR CLAIMS.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN GAZA, THE ATTACKS FROM HAMAS, THOSE BRUTAL ATTACKS, ARE THERE WAY TO ADVANCE THEIR CLAIMS TO ALL OF PALESTINE.

CRYSTAL: WHAT ENDS UPDATING THE LARGER GLOBAL CONCERN AS WELL AS WE SEE OTHER COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF GAZA, DRAWING ALLEGIANCES TO BOTH SIDES?

EZZEDINE: AGAIN, IF YOU TAKE A STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT THIS CONFLICT, SORRY, ABOUT THIS ATTACK, THE HAMAS ATTACK, THE SCALE OF THE ATTACK, THE PARTICULAR SHOCKING BRUTALITY OF THE ATTACK, THE NATURE OF THE TARGETS.

THE FACT THAT MOST OF THE VICTIMS ARE CIVILIANS, PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND SO ON.

THIS ATTACK IS ALMOST, UNLESS IT IS A COMPLETELY ROGUE OPERATION, WHICH IS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE, IT IS A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT, IT IS ALMOST DESIGNED TO PRODUCE AN EFFECT.

AND THE EFFECT IS WHAT YOU SEE TODAY IN GAZA.

.

IS THAT ISRAEL REPRISED IT.

ISRAEL HAD A DOCTOR AND SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT NOT TO LET ANY ATTACK ON ITS TERRITORY OR CITIZENS GO UNPUNISHED.

AND THAT MEANS NOT JUST RETALIATE PROPORTIONATELY, BUT EVEN ADOPT A HARSHER RESPONSE SO THAT YOU DETER FURTHER ATTACKS.

THE TRAGEDY OF THIS DOCTRINE IS THE OTHER SIDE IS NOT DETERRED, AS YOU CAN SEE.

IT SEEMS AS IF HAMAS HAS PRODUCED THIS ATTACK IN ORDER TO ELICIT ISRAEL'’S RESPONSE.

WHICH IN TURN, AS YOU CAN SEE AROUND THE REGION, IS MOBILIZING ARABS AND MUSLIMS, INCLUDING IN THE UNITED STATES, AROUND THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE TO DEFEND THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THE VICTIMS THAT ARE FALLING IN GAZA AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

INSTEAD OF THIS BEING A HAMAS GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL, NETANYAHU COALITION CONFLICT, IT BECOMES ISRAELIS AND EVEN JEWS ON ONE SIDE, AND PALESTINIANS AND EVEN ARABS AND MUSLIMS ON THE OTHERS.

IT IS THIS HARDENING OF IDENTITIES THAT THIS ATTACK IS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE.

SADLY, THIS IS EXACTLY THE IMPACT THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

CRYSTAL: WHAT IS THE DANGER IN OTHER COUNTRIES NOW COMING INTO THIS CONFLICT?

AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, THIS TENSION HAS EXISTED FOR DECADES.

BUT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, AND LARGER POSSIBILITY THAT OTHER NATIONS ARE GOING TO BE MORE DRAWN TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN THIS CONFLICT.

EZZEDINE: YES.

FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT HAMAS IS PART OF A BROADER IRANIAN COALITION IN THE REGION.

THAT INCLUDES HAMAS IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON, AND OTHERS AS WELL.

BUT MANEY -- BUT MAINLY, IRAN, HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN TODAY IS THAT HAMAS IS THE MAIN PARTY, BUT HEZBOLLAH IS EXCHANGING FIRE WITH ISRAEL ON THE NORTHERN BORDER, AND IRAN IS PRODUCING NOISES ABOUT POSSIBLE INTERVENTION IF THINGS GET OUT OF CONTROL.

SO ON AND SO FORTH.

THERE IS DEFINITELY A RISK OF A BROADER REGIONAL CONFRONTATION.

AND EVEN IF WE DON'’T GET, HOPEFULLY WE DON'’T GET INTO AN ACTIVE CONFLICT THAT INVOLVES ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE MORE CATASTROPHIC.

BUT EVEN IF WE GET THERE, YOU ALREADY RAISE THE TEMPERATURE IN THE REGION, MATE -- MAKE IT HARDER FOR COUNTRIES LIKE EGYPT, SAUDI ARABIA, THE UNITED ARABS, WHO ARE TRYING TO FIND SOME PEACEFUL THING WITH ISRAEL OR PEACE AGREEMENT, SOMETHING IN THAT DIRECTION.

IT REDUCES THEIR ABILITY TO DO THIS, AND MOBILIZE THE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING THEIR OWN POPULATIONS, BEHIND THE CALL FOR STEADFASTNESS, FASTNESS, AND WAR AND SO ON.

CRYSTAL: AS WE LOOK AT THESE IMAGES, I MEAN, IT IS HARD NOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT CIVILIANS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE QUITE LITERALLY BEING CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE.

THEY ARE AT THE CENTER OF THESE TWO QUESTIONS.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT.

IT IS INNOCENT FOLKS TRYING TO LIVE THEIR LIVES THAT END UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS.

EZZEDINE: IT HAS BEEN THE CASE ALL THE TIME.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONFLICT, YOU LOOK AT THE VICTIMS, THE MAJORITY OF THE VICTIMS OF THIS CONFLICT HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN CIVILIANS.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN AMONGST THEM MOST OF ALL.

IN A WAY, CIVILIANS UNFORTUNATELY AND TRAGICALLY ARE THE ONE CONSTITUENCY THAT THE WARRING PARTIES ARE LESS INTERESTED IN.

HAMAS DELIBERATELY HIDES AMONG CIVILIANS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, THIS IS WHAT GUERRILLA AND MILITIA DO.

THEY ELICIT THAT RESPONSE.

THEY KNOW THAT RESPONSE WILL HIT CIVILIANS MORE.

IN A WAY, IT SERVES THEIR PURPOSE.

ISRAEL ALSO, WHILE IT SAYS THAT THE ARMY AT ITS RULES OF ENGAGEMENTS RESPECT CIVILIAN LIFE, BUT YOU CANNOT BOMB AN AREA THAT ARE ONLY A COUPLE MILES THAT HAS 2 MILLION PEOPLE.

YOU CANNOT BOMB IT OR SEND YOUR ARMY IN WITHOUT A HUGE NUMBER OF YOUR VICTIMS BEING CIVILIANS.

AGAIN, SADLY, THE CIVILIANS, ALSO ON THE ISRAELI SIDE, ARE THE ONES PAYING THE PRICE FOR THIS.

EZZEDINE: IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES, I WONDER IF YOU COULD JUST TELL US, GIVEN YOUR EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION ABOUT THIS REGION, WHAT IS THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME HERE?

EZZEDINE: THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME IS ACTUALLY NOT GOING TO COME FROM THE REGION.

YOU CAN READ IN TODAY'’S NEWSPAPERS QUOTES ON ISRAEL TO HOLD THE ATTACK OR AT LEAST RECONSIDER.

BECAUSE THE IDEA OF AN ALL OUT ATTACK ONCE AND FOR ALL IS WRONG FOR ISRAEL AND ITS SECURITY.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPENING BEFORE.

THAT NEVER ACTUALLY PRODUCED THE EXPECTED EFFECT.

THE REGION, IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE A POSITIVE RESPONSES GOING TO COME FROM THE REGION.

I THINK BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND BASED ON HISTORY, OUR BEST HOPE LIES IN, TRAGICALLY, LIES AND WASHINGTON.

IT IS THE UNITED STATES THAT CAN ACTUALLY PLAY THE MOST CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE HERE.

ISRAEL CANNOT PULL THIS OFF ON ITS OWN.

IT NEEDS HELP FROM NOT ONLY THE U.S., BUT IT NEEDS HELP FROM THEIR NEIGHBORS, FROM REGIONAL COUNTRIES.

BUT THE NEIGHBORS AND ISRAEL CANNOT ALONE FIND A WAY TO PUT ALL OF THOSE MOVING PIECES TOGETHER.

ONLY THE U.S. CAN DO THAT.

HISTORICALLY, THAT HAS BEEN THE AMERICAN LEADERS AND WHAT AMERICAN LEADERSHIP WAS ABOUT.

NOT ONLY THIS ADMINISTRATION, BUT PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE BEEN LED BY THIS DELUSION THAT YOU CAN DISENGAGE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.

BUT YOU CAN HAVE THE MIDDLE EAST ON THE BACK BURNER BECAUSE YOU ARE BUSY WITH CHINA.

WHEN WE DO THIS, THE ONLY RESULT IS YOU ARE CAUGHT UNPREPARED.

BECAUSE AGAIN, THE MIDDLE EAST IS UNSTABLE, THE STATUS QUO IS UNSTABLE.

YOU CAN'’T PUT IT ON THE BACK BURNER AND EXPECT IT TO STAY THERE IT IS.

GOING TO COLLAPSE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO LEAVE EVERYTHING THAT IS IN YOUR HAND AND GO INTENDED TO IT.

WHERE IS PRESIDENT BIDEN GOING THIS WEEK?

WE DON'’T HAVE A SPEAKER IN CONGRESS.

WHERE IS THE PRESIDENT GOING?

NOT TO CONGRESS, HE IS GOING TO ISRAEL.

WHY?

BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LEAVE IT.

THE LESSON IS, I THINK THE BEST OUTCOME IS FOR THE U.S. TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS TO LEAD CHANGE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

IF IT WANTS TO PROTECT ITS INTERESTS.

IF IT WANTS TO PROTECT ITS GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ROLE.

IT CANNOT DISASSOCIATE ITSELF FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, AND IT CANNOT SATISFY WITH JUST KEEPING THE STATUS QUO.

IT IS INEVITABLE.

CRYSTAL: PROFESSOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE IT.

EZZEDINE: THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL: MASSACHUSETTS WILL NO LONGER GUARANTEE SHELTER FOR MIGRANT FAMILIES WHO COME INTO THE STATE.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY, WHO HAS ANNOUNCED THE STATE IS NEARING MAXIMUM CAPACITY AND ITS SHELTER SYSTEM.

AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXPAND ANYMORE THAN IT ALREADY HAS.

>> ARE SHELTER SYSTEM CANNOT EXPAND INDEFINITELY.

THIS LEVEL OF DEMAND IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

WE CAN ONLY GO IT ALONE FOR SO LONG.

CRYSTAL: HEALY RENEWED CALLS FOR MORE HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH SHE SAYS HAVE GONE UNMET SINCE SHE FIRST DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER SHELTER CAPACITY FOR MIGRANTS TWO MONTHS BACK.

GBH NEWS STATEHOUSE REPORTER KATIE LANNAN WAS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, AND SHE JOINS ME NOW WITH MORE.

HI, KATIE.

KATIE: HEY THERE.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

CRYSTAL: AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS CAPACITY THAT THE STATE HAS HAD, THE STATE HAS BEEN HOUSING MIGRANTS FOR SOME TIME.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME 7000 FAMILIES.

KATIE: THAT'’S RIGHT.

GOVERNOR HEALY SAYS WHEN THE STATE HITS 7500 FAMILIES, THERE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH SPACE, MANY, OR SERVICE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR ANYMORE.

AT THAT POINT, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO IMPLEMENT A TRIAGE SYSTEM, PRIORITIZING FAMILIES WITH HEALTH RISKS OR OTHER PRESSING NEEDS, AND INSTITUTING A WAITLIST FOR PEOPLE BEYOND THAT CAPACITY LIMIT.

CRYSTAL: THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION ALSO ANNOUNCED A NEW POSITION TO MANAGE ALL OF THIS.

THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT PERSON AND THEIR ROLE.

KATIE: THIS IS LIEUTENANT GENERAL SCOTT RICE.

HE HAS TAUGHT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT BOTH THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD AND THE MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD.

HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN RESPONSE EFFORTS TO HURRICANES, ICE STORMS, THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING.

HE IS A SOUTH HAMPTON RESIDENT, AND HE WILL BE STEPPING IN TO LEAD CORONATION BETWEEN FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.

AS WELL AS PROVIDING DAILY UPDATES TO GOVERNOR HEALY ON THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND.

CRYSTAL: THIS SITUATION WITH THE MIGRANTS AND THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION HAS PROVIDED THEM AND OF COURSE THE OUTPUT OF MONEY AND RESOURCES HAS BEEN ONE A LOT OF OF FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT AT THE STATEHOUSE, AND PROBABLY IN EVERYONE ELSE'’S LIVING ROOM WHO IS WATCHING.

DID YOU THINK THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION HAD A PRESSURE PUT ON IT TO TAKE ACTION HERE?

KATIE: I MEAN, I THINK SHE HAS BEEN CALLING FOR ACTION FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM CITIES AND TOWNS, FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO SAY THEIR SCHOOLS, THEIR HOTELS ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP POSTING MORE AND MORE NEW PEOPLE.

OF COURSE, THE HOUSING CRISIS IS CONTRIBUTING HERE TOO, BECAUSE FAMILIES CAN'’T MOVE OUT OF SHELTER.

THE GOVERNOR SAID SOME FAMILIES HAVE BEEN IN SHELTER FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

IT IS BOTH LONGTIME MASS RESIDENCE IN NEW IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE IN EMERGENCY SHELTER.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE WE ARE REACHING A BOILING POINT HERE.

CRYSTAL: DID THE GOVERNOR MENTION IF WE DO HIT THAT CAPACITY NUMBER, WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

WHAT ACTIVATES?

DO PEOPLE GET TURNED AWAY?

KATIE: IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW THAT IS REALLY GOING TO WORK.

SHE SAID THERE WILL BE SOME SORT OF WAITLIST.

PEOPLE WILL BE PRIORITIZED BASED ON THEIR NEEDS.

RIGHT NOW, SHE SAID THEY WANT TO PUT THE MESSAGE OUT THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SO FAR.

I DON'’T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

IN JUST A COUPLE WEEKS, NOVEMBER 1 IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AND THAT IS WHEN THEY EXPECT THE CAPACITY LIMIT TO BE HIT.

CRYSTAL: WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSING CRISIS.

THERE ARE PRESUMABLY FOLKS THAT NEED THAT SPACE THAT MIGRANT FAMILIES ARE FILLING.

WHERE DO THE MIGRANT FAMILIES GO ONCE THEY HAVE GOTTEN HERE AND GOTTEN THE RESOURCES?

WHAT IS GOVERNOR HEALY GOING TO DO IF THEY CONTINUE TO NEED THOSE RESOURCES?

CRYSTAL: I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO UNWIND HERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS SHE HAS BEEN PRESSING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR IS TO SPEED UP THE WORK AUTHORIZATION, SO PEOPLE COMING HERE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES CAN GET JOBS, CAN EARN MONEY TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY.

AND THEY ARE LAUNCHING NEW JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET SKILLS WHILE THEY ARE WAITING FOR THAT WORK AUTHORIZATION, AND TO PEOPLE GET PLACED IN JOBS IF THEY ARE LEGALLY ABLE TO WORK.

THE STATE IS LOOKING TO STEP UP ITS EFFORTS TO HELP PEOPLE FIND AND AFFORD STABLE HOUSING FROM SHELTER.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW, AND AT WHAT SCALE, THAT ALL PLAYS OUT.

WE ARE TALKING AROUND 23,000 PEOPLE IN THE SHELTER SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

CRYSTAL: IN THE LAST 30 SECONDS WE HAVE, HOW MUCH MONEY HAS THE STATE SPENT IN HOUSING THESE FOLKS, AND CONTINUED TO SHELL OUT TO SUPPORT THEM?

KATIE: WE ARE ABSOLUTELY TALKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

GOVERNOR HEALY REQUESTED $250 MILLION IN FUNDING.

STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE NOT ACTED ON THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUEST.

THE HOUSEKEEPER SAYS HE IS NOT SURE THAT WOULD GET US THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH.

CRYSTAL: SOMETHING WE WILL BE WATCHING.

KATIE LANNAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

KATIE: THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL: EXCEPT, BOSTON IS ABOUT TO GET A WHOLE LOT BRIGHTER.

IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, BOSTON CARIBBEAN FASHION WEEK WILL CELEBRATE ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY, CEMENTING IT AS ONE OF THE CITY'’S LONGEST RUNNING FASHION WEEK EVENTS.

THE FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL OF FASHION AND BEAUTY KICKS OFF WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AND WILL HIGHLIGHT DESIGNERS AND ARTISTS FROM ACROSS NEW ENGLAND.

FOR MORE ON WHAT IS COMING UP IS THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE FASHION WEEK, ALTHEA BLACKFORD, JOINING ME NOW.

AND BOSTON-BASED MAKEUP ARTIST, ALEXIA JAY, WHO IS BEING HONORED AT THIS YEAR'’S EVENT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

ALEXIA: THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL: ALTHEA, LET'’S TALK ABOUT THIS EVENT FOR FOLKS WHO MAY NOT KNOW.

I'’M SURE AS WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE PHOTOS, IT IS GOOD TO BE AMAZING.

ALTHEA: YES.

IT IS 10 YEARS IN THE WORKS, 10 YEARS MAKING.

WE ARE ALL ABOUT FOR BOSTON COMMUNITY FASHION WEEK, IT IS ALL ABOUT SHOWCASING THOSE PILLARS IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THROUGH OUR EVENTS.

WHEN FOLKS DO COME TO OUR EVENTS, THEY HAVE A GREAT TIME HERE THEY ARE LIKE, I DIDN'’T KNOW ABOUT THIS.

WE WANT MORE.

I'’M LIKE, THANKS, TELL MORE AND BRING FIVE MORE PEOPLE.

IT IS A GOOD TIME.

IT IS ABOUT THAT GOOD VIBES.

WE ARE BRINGING THAT WHOLE CARIBBEAN CULTURE, OR IF YOU GO TO THAT DESTINATION, YOU ARE LIKE, WE LOVE IT HERE.

WE ARE BRINGING THAT TO BOSTON.

CRYSTAL: THIS YEAR'’S THEME IS CELEBRATING THIS WORK, THIS LABOR OF LOVE THAT HAS LASTED FOR A DECADE AND THIS IS -- IN THE CITY.

ALTHEA: YES.

IT HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE, THE SHORT WAY OF SAYING IT.

I HAVE BEEN POURING THROUGH ALL OF THESE YEARS, AND IT STARTED LITERALLY WITH JUST AN IDEA.

I WAS LIKE, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE, WHAT IF'’S?

IT WAS ON THE LEVEL OF, I CAN DO IT AND IF IT DOES NOT WORK, I CAN SAY I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FASHION WEEK, AND GO FROM THERE.

FOR ALL OF THE YEARS, I WAS ALWAYS BEHIND THE SCENES, PRODUCING OTHER FOLKS FASHION SHOWS.

FOLKS WERE LIKE, YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING ON YOUR OWN.

AND I WAS SAYING, NOT BEFORE THE TIME.

DOING OTHER THINGS ALONG THE WAY.

HAD MY MOMENT OF, HEY, I'’M GOING TO DO A FASHION SHOW.

I HAD ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS.

I WAS LIKE, THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A FASHION SHOW, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A FASHION WEEK.

THE JOURNEY STARTED FROM THERE.

I WANTED TO EMBRACE AND HIGHLIGHT MY CARIBBEAN HERITAGE AS WELL.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT?

?

YOU DON'’T FIND THAT SO MUCH HERE IN THE BOSTON AREA.

IT IS A WONDERFUL WAY OF CELEBRATING THAT WE DO HAVE A CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY IN BOSTON.

I WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND SPECIAL.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THROUGH FASHION?

CRYSTAL: ALEXIA, YOU ARE RECEIVING AN AWARD AT THIS EVENT.

.

YOU SAID YOU ARE NERVOUS.

ALEXIA: I AM.

[LAUGHTER] CRYSTAL: I'’M SURE YOU HAVE WORKED OTHER FASHION SHOWS, FASHION WEEKS.

WHAT MAKES THIS ONE DIFFERENT THAN SAY SOMETHING ELSE HE MAY HAVE DONE?

ALEXIA: YOU KNOW HOW IT IS IN NEW YORK FASHION WEEK OR L.A.

FASHION WEEK.

IT IS MORE PRETENTIOUS.

I FEEL LIKE ALTHEA BRINGS MORE OF A COMMUNITY-BASED FEEL TO IT.

THAT IS ONE THING I ENJOY ABOUT IT.

OBVIOUSLY IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD TIME NO MATTER WHAT.

I THINK THE ENERGY IS ALWAYS AMAZING.

HONESTLY, THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME.

CRYSTAL: CAP TO ME ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AS A MAKEUP ARTIST AND DOING THESE FASHION SHOWS.

IT IS PROBABLY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN MY -- THEN MY FEEBLE ATTEMPT.

ALEXIA: I HAVE BEEN DOING MY -- DOING MAKEUP FOR 10 YEARS.

I AM BOSTON-BASED, AND I WORKED OUT OF A SPOT NOW.

WE DO ALL SKINCARE AND ANYTHING TO DO WITH SKIN.

MAKEUP IS FITTING TO BE THERE.

OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE DONE FASHION, EDITORIAL, I STILL DO EDITORIAL WORK.

IT'’S ENJOYABLE.

I THINK IT HAS EVOLVED.

THE FASHION INDUSTRY HAS EVOLVED SO MUCH, THAT NOW IT IS MORE COMFORTABLE, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN OF COLOR IN THIS INDUSTRY.

AND I HAVE SEEN THAT FROM BEING IN THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 10 YEARS, BECAUSE I WAS IN FASHION BEFORE.

DOING MAKEUP SPECIFICALLY, IT HAS JUST BEEN -- IT'’S DIFFERENT NOW AND I REALLY ENJOY IT.

CRYSTAL:CRYSTAL: TALK TO ME ABOUT THE INCLUSIVITY PIECE.

A LOT OF TIMES, THESE CARIBBEAN DESIGNERS DON'’T ALWAYS GET THE PLATFORM AND THE SPACE THEY DO DURING THE CARIBBEAN FASHION WEEK IN THE CITY.

ALTHEA: THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS.

AND TO TAKE IT BACK FURTHER, THERE ARE A LOT OF DESIGNERS HERE IN THE U.S. AND THEY MAY HAVE CARIBBEAN TIES OR THEY ARE WEST INDIAN OR -- IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER, BUT THEY DON'’T FIND THEMSELVES IS THAT BECAUSE IT IS VERY LOCKING YOU IN A NICHE AND YOU WILL NOT GET ANYWHERE FROM THERE.

FROM AN AMERICAN POINT OF VIEW, IF YOU SAY YOU ARE CARIBBEAN, THAT MEANS RESORT WHERE.

THERE IS MORE TO THAT ONE PERSON.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN POINT OF VIEW.

WE WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT.

THEREFORE, YES, YOU MAY BE FROM THE CARIBBEAN, BUT WE WANT TO SEE YOUR MINIMALISTIC STYLE.

WE WANT TO SEE THE COLORS.

WE WANT TO SEE THE WHOLE RANGE YOU PROVIDE.

THAT IS A GREAT PLATFORM PROVIDE.

IT IS AMAZING HOW CARIBBEAN DESIGNERS ARE LIKE, I FEEL LIKE I GET TO CELEBRATE ME WHILE I GET TO SHOWCASE WHAT I CAN DO.

BECAUSE I KNOW I'’M NOT JUST ONE THING, I MORE THAN ONE THING.

BUT AT LEAST WITH THIS PLATFORM, I CAN DO IT ALL.

CRYSTAL: HOW HAS THE SHOW EVOLVED OVER THE LAST DECADE?

ALTHEA: IT STARTED OFF SIMPLE.

LEARNING ALONG THE WAY, BECAUSE THERE IS NO REAL HANDBOOK OF HOW TO DO A FASHION WEEK.

YOU LEARN ALONG THE WAY, THE BUMPS AND BRUISES OF WHAT NOT TO DO AND WHAT TO DO ALONG THE WAY.

THE PRODUCTION VALUE HAS GOTTEN TIGHTER OVER THE YEARS.

I HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM, WE GET IT DONE.

WE HAVE OUR CONSTANT MORNING GROUP CHAT TEXT SEND EVERYTHING.

WEAR LIKE, HOW ARE WE DOING, WHAT IS GOING ON, WHAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.

MAKING SURE WE ARE ON POINT, WHAT IS HAPPENING, IS EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, DOES EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND BE ON IT.

ARE PRODUCTION VALUE HAS STRENGTHENED OVER THE YEARS.

WE ARE ALL ABOUT PRODUCING A SOLID PRODUCT.

CRYSTAL: IT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING PART OF THE SHOW?

OR WEEK, I GUESS.

NOT JUST SHOW.

ALEXIA: IN THE PAST, I HAVE CREATED CLOTHING OUT OF HAIR.

WE HAVE DONE MAKEUP, WE HAVE DONE THE VIRTUAL WHERE WE DID MAKEUP FOR A CARIBBEAN FASHION.

EVERYBODY HAD THEIR OWN INSPIRATION.

I THINK THE CREATIVITY PART OF IT IS REALLY GREAT, BUT ALSO THE CREATIVE FREEDOM THAT ALTHEA GETS ME WHEN I AM PART OF THE SHOWS.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I ENJOY, HAVING THE CREATIVE FREEDOM.

MOST OF THE TIMES WHEN YOU ARE ON A SET OR EDITORIAL SHOOT, THEY ARE TELLING YOU SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

IT IS VERY SPECIFIC.

WHEN I WORKED -- WHEN I HAVE WORKED WITH ALTHEA, I'’M LIKE, MAKE THE GIRLS LOOK GOOD.

[LAUGHTER] CRYSTAL: THAT IS ALL YOU NEED.

ALTHEA: I SEE THE CRAFT THAT YOU CAN DO, HAVE FUN.

I WILL GIVE YOU SOME GUIDANCE OF LIKE WHAT I'’M TRYING TO GO FOR.

BUT FROM THERE, DO YOU.

HAVE FUN.

I KNOW IT WILL BE GREAT AND AMAZING.

CRYSTAL: THAT IS WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD DO WHEN THEY COME OUT TO THE FASHION WEEK.

ALTHEA: EXACTLY.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT IF YOU HAVE THAT OUTFIT WHERE YOU ARE LIKE I DON'’T KNOW WHERE TO WHERE IT, IT IS THIS.

THAT DRESS WHERE YOU ARE LIKE, WHERE DOING THIS?

IT'’S THIS WEEK.

ALL OF THESE EVENTS.

FOR OPENING NIGHT, WE HAVE TROPICAL CHIC, IS THE THEME.

THE DESIGNERS ARE CREATING LOOKS THAT ARE TROPICAL CHIC, AND WE ARE ASKING ALL OF OUR ATTENDEES TO ALSO WEAR YOUR TROPICAL CHIC.

DEFINE IT FOR US, THERE IS NO WRONG ANSWER.

WE ARE ALL ABOUT GOOD COCKTAIL ATTIRE, FUN AND FESTIVE OUTFITS, WE LIKE TO GET DRESSED AS A CARIBBEAN CULTURE AND COMMUNITY.

WE ARE ALL ABOUT THE COLOR.

WHY NOT CELEBRATE IT?

WHY NOT DO IT?

THAT DRESS FOR YOUR ALLY, I DON'’T KNOW, BRING IT, COME ON WITH IT.

PUT IT ON.

CRYSTAL: DON'’T THREATEN ME WITH A GOOD TIME.

ALL RIGHT, LADIES.

ALTHEA BLACKFORD AND ALEXIA JAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

I AM CRYSTAL HAYNES.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.