I have somewhat mixed feelings about the role that Berkeleyside in particular sometimes plays in local politics and community, and I really miss the SF Guardian and the old days of the East Bay Express. But the cityside sites are significantly more useful than the remaining traditional media in the bay area, and having them is hugely better than much of the US where independent local journalism has been completely wiped out.
(Of course, even if I completely hated them, I would still be happy for their workers to be unionizing.)