City leaders and advocates are urging Bronx businesses to help them protect young teen girls from going missing.
City Council member Andy King and community members read the names of 14 Bronx girls who have been reported missing since July 2014.
King also announced the creation of safe zones at local businesses. He says the zones will allow anyone in danger to seek shelter inside and talk with NYPD officers.
"Every other day, every other week, our young girls, ranging from the ages 12 to roughly about 16 or 17 years of age, are just vanishing off our streets," King said. "We need to make sure that our children stay safe. Understanding and learning more that there is a valid active prostitution ring that is occurring up here in the Bronx, we need to find ways to shut it down."
Businesses that volunteer for the program will undergo training by the NYPD before they become an official safe zone.