I recently visited the aquarium (2019 - right before Covid). While the immediate area around the aquarium felt safe, the sketchiness factor seemed to increase very quickly as you went further away.

The last time I visited the aquarium was in the 1980s with my dad. I had very fond memories of both the aquarium and riding those small white electric boat things in the harbor. I didn't feel unsafe at all, but then again I was an elementary school kid so what would I have known back then?

Then again, back then I distinctly felt unsafe going into Manhattan in NYC, and recall my dad commuted into the city with a steel baton and pepper spray in his briefcase for self defense.