That ain’t no slickly paved Yellow Brick Road from these dark days of December to the yawning sunlit evenings of next July – by which time optimists believe a polystyrene food container ban will span Culver City eateries, relieving the environment of a nagging, torturing enemy.

The president/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce is the latest loud voice to join a growing chorus of critics unhappy with the way the presumed — but far from ready — ban is playing out.

The environment may have to remain unspared from piecemeal polystyrene litter a little longer.

Steve Rose, a City Councilman a decade ago, can speak for himself.

How practical, he challenges, was the Council’s unanimous support of a ban?

Mr. Rose, no blushing violet, spelled out his feelings in his sentence.

“In the age of the internet, given the current business climate,” said the Chamber boss, “when everybody has the ability to drive across the street into a different community, the banning of one item by one small city among 88 cities in Los Angeles County is more of a political gesture than an act of practicality.”

A miles’ long accusation loaded with smokin’ dynamite.

Another challenge:

“If it is the hope of the City Council to avoid recycling polystyrene by banning the sale of it, then last week’s vote was a failed effort,” Mr. Rose said.

(To be continued)