Many years ago I was required to go to downtown Newark for a hearing in front of the public utilities regulators.
I was living in CA at the time so I had to stay overnight at a hotel downtown.
It was the only time I ever saw a security guard standing by the check-in guest with a huge rifle by his side.
He explained “do not go out after dark”—and I believed him!
Yes, now a couple of the surrounding towns have hotels for people to stay - though there really isn’t all that much business that requires hotels there. There are some by the airport as well (but I don’t believe those are near dangerous residential areas).