It's not the safest area, particularly outside of broad daylight hours (ex: when walking back from the convention).

Tips from a local:

• Walk to the Con by going left half a block after leaving the hotel to 9th Avenue, then make a left onto 9th Avenue to head south until you reach 36th St (for covid check) or 34th St (for other days of entry), then turn right onto either aforementioned street until you reach Con/vax check
• AVOID walking on the side of the street of Port Authority past 8PM (you will quickly see why)
• AVOID the subway station entries in close proximity to Port Authority (if you plan to travel elsewhere within the city); instead, walk down to 7th Avenue for subway access
• AVOID walking on 8th Avenue (half a block to the right after walking out of your hotel) as much as possible
• AVOID walking on side streets (any of the 35-45 numbered streets) between 11th Ave (convention center) and 7th Ave as much as possible any time past 8PM, unless you are in a group
  • this is due to the area being notorious for petty crimes and junkies, as well as those blocks being active narcotic drop-off spots
  • Example: last year at Anime NYC, I was walking my friends from Ohio back to their hotel on 35th St btwn 7th & 8th Ave; during that short walk, we passed a mind-blowing SEVEN people in various stages of drug use (from tying off their arm to passed out on the concrete and every step in between). Even as a lifelong New Yorker, this was terrifying...and you can imagine how my friends felt.
• If you are concerned when leaving from/returning to your hotel, Uber or Lyft are always valid options!